Caravan drops in for flying visit

Kaitaia airport

A new Cessna 208B Grand Caravan dropped in at Kaitaia airport on Monday as a forerunner to the daily Kaitaia/Auckland/Kaitaia service Great Barrier Airlines will launch next week.

The airline will make its first flight next Wednesday, the day after Air New Zealand takes off for the last time.

Four small airlines offered to fill the gap left by Air New Zealand's departure. Far North District Council decided on Great Barrier, which would operate a smaller plane than Eagle Air's but was promising a much improved timetable.

Kaitaia's business and tourism communities welcomed the news, particularly because the new service would offer three flights a day, the first departing at 7.30am. One of the gripes about Air NZ was that the morning flight left too late, forcing businesspeople to fly from Kerikeri if they wanted a full day in Auckland.

Great Barrier Airlines chief executive Mark Roberts said the company was buying a 12-seater Cessna Grand Caravan from Australia for the Kaitaia route.

The Caravan that landed this week, to a small reception from local businesspeople, was a brand new one Great Barrier Airlines general manager Murray Pope said was making a "promotional trip."

Mr Roberts said the company would start with a flat fare of $180 each way, rather than the complicated fare structure offered by Air NZ. Children aged 2 to 12 would pay $108, while infants would travel free. Weekday flights will leave Auckland for Kaitaia at 6am, 12.30pm and 5.30pm, and depart Kaitaia at 7.30am, 2pm and 7pm. Weekend flights will depart Auckland at 9.30am and 5pm, and Kaitaia at 11am and 6.30pm. Once the service starts bookings will be available via www.greatbarrierairlines.co.nz