Hawke's Bay Airport could take a "leading role" in rethinking the way air traffic services are provided in New Zealand, according to Airways NZ.
The airport has joined Airways NZ, Gisborne Airport and New Plymouth Airport in a working group launched this week to collaborate on a plan for the future delivery of air traffic services in their regions and to "support growth in the post Covid-19 environment".
The initiative was announced a week after a pilots' group claimed the proposal to remove air traffic control staff at the airport was a risk to passenger safety that's "beyond belief".
Air Line Pilots' Association president Andrew Ridling said the move would "unnecessarily take New Zealand's risk levels to that of developing nations for no advantage".
He said as aviation and tourism recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, it was puzzling as to why Airways was withdrawing the "safety-critical services".