Lots of snow, too few planes

The Queenstown ski season kicks off this weekend, but tourism operators are worried that there may not be enough flights to transport skiers south.

Destination Queenstown chief executive David Kennedy said Air New Zealand had promised to increase the number of flights into the area to compensate for the collapse of Qantas New Zealand.

But the extra flights were yet to be scheduled.

"It is a worry because we've got this fantastic snow.

"People can't make bookings or plan their holiday if the flights aren't there."

Mr Smith said flight numbers into Queenstown remained 30 per cent down.

Coronet Peak is due to open on Saturday, after heavy snowfall in the past week coated the resort with 50cm of snow.

An Air New Zealand spokesman said the number of flights into Queenstown would increase in the "very near future," although he could not say when.

The company was still preparing the BA whisper jets, repossessed from Qantas NZ, to fly.

"We think the number of flights will be back on a par [with when Qantas was still in the market]."

Mt Hutt is also due to open this weekend, thanks to the recent cold snap and a 20cm dump of snow.

The Remarkables are due to open on June 30.

NZSki.com general manager Duncan Smith said he could not remember when the three South Island fields, which are managed by NZSki.com, had received so much snow this early in the year.

In the North Island, more than 18,000 season passes for Mt Ruapehu's Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields are expected to be sold before the resorts open on June 22.

It will be the first time skiers have been able to go to both fields on one season's pass. Whakapapa bought out Turoa from receivership last year.

www.nzherald.co.nz/travel