Firms offer Kaitaia flights

Sunair Aviation is confident it can fill the void left by Air New Zealand's decision to scrap its Kaitaia flights. Photo / Sunair

Two aviation companies are vying for the right to fly from Kaitaia after Air New Zealand's decision to quit the Far North town.

The national carrier said last week it would axe its Kaitaia flights as of April; a decision decried by business, farming, health and political leaders.

Tauranga company Sunair Aviation was the first to throw a lifeline to stranded Far North air travellers but a second, as yet unnamed, company is also keen to take Air New Zealand's place.

Far North Holdings chief executive Andy Nock said the council-owned company was evaluating two proposals for a Kaitaia air service to make sure the town got the best flights possible in terms of capacity and departure times. The offers were confidential for now.

Sunair, which specialises in routes between provincial towns not flown by the national carrier, was the first to contact the Far North District Council and Far North Holdings.

Its aircraft - mainly twin-engined, six-seater Piper Aztecs - are even smaller than the 19-seater Beechcraft 1900Ds Air New Zealand says are too small to be economic, but the firm believes its lower overheads will make the route viable.

Sunair has 10 twin-engined aircraft serving eight towns and is owned by Tauranga couple Dan and Bev Power.

Mrs Power said Sunair would offer two flights a day timed to allow a full business day in the destination city. The number of flights could be increased if there was sufficient demand.

It was too early to give an indication of cost but she hoped they would be similar to current Air New Zealand fares.

The company had already spoken to Mayor John Carter and Mr Nock. Both were enthusiastic and supportive.

The firm was considering bringing in 12-seater Cessna Caravans.

Mrs Power said there was a social obligation to ensure Kaitaia continued to have air transport but but it also had to work financially.

"We see this as a business opportunity. We think we can make it work, we have less costs, less overheads than Air New Zealand," she said.

One of the complaints about the current service is the departure time, with some Kaitaia business people saying they have to drive to Kerikeri to catch an early flight and get a full day in Auckland.

Mrs Power said the departure time had yet to be set but would have to fit in with other flights.

It is not the company's first attempt at setting up an air service in Northland. In 2007, Sunair tried to start up a Whangarei-Auckland service in alliance with Whangarei air training school Quantum Aviation.

It folded a few months later because a government policy change meant Quantum's students were no longer eligible for student allowances or loans, and because the company struggled to compete head-to-head with Air New Zealand.

Northland MP Mike Sabin said he was heartened to hear of Sunair's plans after the Air New Zealand announcement.

He had spoken to the company's chief executive, who told him Air New Zealand would work with the replacement airline and airport operators to ensure a smooth transition.