Editorial: Direct flights a luxury

Photo / Stephen Parker

It's sad to see the end of Rotorua's transtasman flights, slated for April next year, but it seems it has become a luxury we just can't afford.

The Rotorua District Council and Rotorua Regional Airport announced yesterday, in conjunction with Air New Zealand, that flights to and from Sydney would stop from the end of April.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said the anticipated boost from the transtasman flights hadn't happened and it's hard to argue with her statement that the ratepayer funding that had been going towards the service could be better used in other areas.

Many of our readers have been making that same argument in our letters column for years.

That's not to say the concept wasn't worth a shot. It's clear to see the potential of a direct flight into Rotorua from Australia, especially in terms of bringing in overseas tourists.

As for travellers headed the other way, it's a pity the service was never able to be extended to, for example, Gold Coast flights, as again, the potential is clear to see.

I certainly appreciated the convenience of flying to and from Sydney out of Rotorua last time I went - saving travelling time and money in the process.

But looking at the big picture I've probably lost any such financial benefit over time through rates-funded contributions to the service.

As we've reported today, since 2009 the council has paid $9,136,602 to Air New Zealand as part of a "joint venture marketing" programme to keep the flights in Rotorua.

Unfortunately a successful service required not only good passenger numbers, but an airline that sees the value in a regional/international operation and a community satisfied that its contribution is reaping tangible benefits now and into the future.

In those respects maybe the concept never really took off.