Bus companies could be the big winners following Air New Zealand's announcement to discontinue regional air services to Whakatane and Taupo.
Air NZ chief executive Christopher Luxon said on Tuesday the national airline would no longer operate into Whakatane, and will also cut services between Taupo and Wellington, from April next year.
Bus companies are looking to link up road services from smaller centres to meet daily flights in and out of Rotorua airport.
InterCity marketing manager Daniel Rode said the company had the largest and most extensive bus network in the country which served many of the smaller centres.
The company runs daily services to more than 600 destinations around New Zealand.