Last Air New Zealand flight from Kapiti Airport leaves tomorrow

Air New Zealand won't be flying in and out of Kapiti Airport after tomorrow. Photo/file

The last Air New Zealand flight from Kapiti Airport will leave at 7am tomorrow.

Acting Kapiti Mayor James Cootes and council members will be at the airport tomorrow to see off the flight.

Otaki MP Nathan Guy won't be there but said Air NZ's departure was "very disappointing" and sad for Kapiti commuters.

He supported Air NZ to start flying to and from Kapiti Airport in 2011 and was on the first flight.

He said there was a "sense of optimism" that Air Chathams will be taking Air NZ's place within a few months.

The airline began offering flights in and out of Whanganui a couple of years ago when Air NZ pulled out, and since then patronage had increased, Guy said.

Air Chathams were currently working through regulatory requirements with the property owner, and Guy said those talks were progressing well.

They were a "high reliability" airline.

Guy said people were reflecting on the way Air NZ had treated travellers from Kapiti in giving them only three weeks notice before discontinuing services.

"They feel let down with the national carrier."

A farewell for the final flight tomorrow will begin at 6.30am.