Dunedin may have got flights to the Gold Coast but it will have smaller capacity to the capital after Air New Zealand announced changes to its domestic schedule yesterday.
Air NZ has announced flights to and from Dunedin to Wellington will now use smaller ATR-72 turboprop planes instead of the roomier Airbus A320 jets.
The ATR-72 seats 68 passengers, while an Airbus A320 seats 171.
The first flight of the day will arrive in Wellington at 8.30am, 50 minutes later than they typically would on an A320. The last return non-stop flight will depart Wellington at 4.30pm, while a connecting flight through Christchurch will depart just after 6pm.
In a statement, Air NZ general manager domestic Scott Carr said a significant amount of care and planning went into ensuring domestic network services were effective in communities across the country.
"To do this, Air New Zealand must also ensure its operations are financially sustainable."
Those already booked to travel were being rebooked, he said.
It is believed the flight changes will take effect from mid-February next year.
Taieri MP Ingrid Leary said it had been a bad week for the lower South.
Air NZ had made it harder to do business by making travel to and from the region harder, she said.
"For many travellers, the smaller planes and longer bunny hop to the North Island will mean having to stay overnight which adds costs
and delays.
"Given its status as a national carrier and the fact that taxpayers down here helped bail them out during Covid, Air New Zealand should be taking more things into account than pure profit.
"Ministers should step in with a please explain," she said.
"Otherwise it shows how little this National government cares about us down here."
On Monday, Air NZ also revealed it would cut the direct service from Invercargill to Wellington from January 19 next year.
Rival airline Jetstar will offer Dunedin flights to and from the Gold Coast three times a week from next winter.
The first direct flight between Dunedin Airport and Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta, Queensland, will be on June 24.
