Transtasman flights canned for three months

Transtasman flights canned for three months

Air New Zealand and Rotorua International Airport have this morning announced it will can direct flights between Rotorua and Sydney for three months during winter.

In a statement, they said both parties had agreed to suspend the Rotorua-Sydney service during the off-peak winter season between May and August, aiming to focus on growing passenger numbers during the peak September to April travel season.

The statement also said they were working together to help stimulate passenger growth on the direct service between Rotorua and Sydney.

From September 2014, Air New Zealand will move its twice-weekly international service to Monday and Thursday, rather than the current Tuesday and Saturday departures.

Rotorua International Airport will also reduce its international departure tax from $25 to $15 from late October.

Air New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Bruce Parton said the new schedule would better suit the needs of customers travelling between those two ports for both business and leisure purposes.

Rotorua International Airport Chief Executive Alastair Rhodes said reducing the departure tax would help further grow passenger demand.

"It's absolutely critical for us to be attractive to regional customers. The reduction in departure tax and the new, more convenient timetable will help us to achieve that."