9 Jul 2013

Northland tourism operator pleased with Air NZ change

2:50 pm on 9 July 2013

A Northland tourism operator says Air New Zealand has found the best possible solution to landing restrictions at Whangarei airport.

The airline has had to reduce the number of passenger on its 19-seater Beech aircraft in bad weather in order to meet new Civil Aviation landing rules. Consequently some passengers have had seats cancelled at the last minute and have had to be bussed from Auckland to Whangarei.

The bigger Bombardier Q300 planes can land at Onerahi airport with a full load of 50 passengers. Air New Zealand says that from 12 August there will be an extra 48 seats a day on flights to and from the north.

Jeroen Jongjens, who runs a Tutukaka diving company, says that's exactly the sort of boost the city needs.

A Bombadier Q300.

A Bombadier Q300. Photo: AIR NEW ZEALAND