9th July 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker
Air services between Wanaka and Christchurch could be up and running as early as September, says Sounds Air.
The airline was proposing a scheduled direct service for up to 15 return flights a week, following strong support from a community survey.
Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said the airline was negotiating arrangements with Queenstown Airport Corporation and Christchurch International Airport.
A survey it commissioned showed there was “overwhelming support” for the proposed route, with 90% of the 3600 respondents saying they felt ‘positive’ or ‘strongly positive’ about the proposal.
Sounds Air was proposing up to three services per day, making it possible to take a return trip on the same day. The flying time between Wanaka and Christchurch’s airports would be approximately 45 minutes and the route would be serviced by Sounds Air’s Pilatus PC12 aircraft, which held nine passengers.
Source: Sounds Air
Crawford said the survey results showed the service would be embraced by the local communities in Wanaka and across the Sounds Air customer base, which included Christchurch residents.
“These survey results absolutely validate what we have been hearing for the last two and a half years. There is a ready and enthusiastic market for this service, and strong understanding and support for the benefits it would bring,” he said.
Only 3% of respondents said they felt negative or strongly negative towards the proposed route.
Crawford said providing regional air services in New Zealand was more important than ever.
“Regional connectivity not only enables locals to travel but it will support domestic tourism, local business recovery and improved access to health services.”
He said the survey showed an important aspect of the service for the Wanaka community was that it use existing facilities at Wanaka Airport with no requirement to invest in additional infrastructure.
“We understand that many Upper Clutha residents have concerns about the prospect of their community airport becoming a busy commercial operation, but that people also recognise the clear benefits of having regular flights in and out of Wanaka, particularly in the post-Covid environment.”
The survey showed demand for services went beyond pure tourism usage, with 10% of total respondents saying that they would use the services for personal/medical reasons, 21% for business purposes, 68% for holiday and leisure and 42% to visit friends and family.
The data was collected between 23-30 June 2020 and total responses were 3,685, made up of 1,446 (39%) people who lived in or owned a home in Wanaka, and 2,234 (61%) who lived outside the region.
