Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon has made it clear his attention is on the bottom line - running an airline and its core business of transport and freight is not on his agenda.
And why would it be? Before his appointment, Mr Luxon's knowledge of aeroplanes was limited
to business class. His background is in marketing, money and giving his shareholders high returns.
In a recent Wanganui Chronicle story he talks about "tough calls", cutting services to cope with rising costs and increasing losses. The message is we "use it or lose it" as far as regular flights to Auckland are concerned.
Air NZ has already dropped flights to Wellington, which have been taken over by Sounds Air.
How do we "use it or lose it"? Fly to Auckland unnecessarily to prove a point and save our service? You either need to fly to Auckland or you don't - the fact it is the only destination provided by Air NZ from Wanganui limits one's choices and makes a mockery of his implied threat.
