Residents and business owners have been urged to take advantage of the enhanced service between Wanaka Airport and Christchurch, which will see a 40% increase in flights starting from August 30.
Civic, tourism, and business leaders in Wanaka hailed the change as a potential boon for the district and have urged the community to get behind the improved service.
Eagle Air chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the increase in air capacity was a response to demand for flights at times better suited to cater for business and leisure travellers.
Ms Hurihanganui met representatives from the Wanaka Chamber of Commerce, Lake Wanaka Tourism, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council in March, to discuss requests for a change to flight scheduling.
She returned to Wanaka last month for further discussions, before Air New Zealand announced its intentions to all parties and media through a press release yesterday.
"Solid patronage" on Eagle Air's existing daily noon service from Wanaka had "clearly showed us" the one non-stop flight per day needed to be reviewed, she said.
Eagle Air will increase its flights to two daily, non-stop return flights between Christchurch and Wanaka, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, while Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday return flights would remain the same.
The trial period could be extended up to six months, she said.
The additional flights reinforced Air NZ's commitment to the Wanaka region, to help grow the region's business and tourism links, Ms Hurihanganui said.
The flights will be operated by the same 19-seater Beech 1900D aircraft as used on the current service, with smart saver fares between Christchurch and Wanaka starting from $90 one-way.
Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore informed the Wanaka Community Board of the "fantastic" news at a meeting yesterday.
Increasing flight capacity into Wanaka is LWT's main strategic goal and Mr Helmore said Eagle Air's commitment to the resort needed to be appreciated and supported.
Board chairman Lyal Cocks said the community needed to get behind the enhanced service.
"It may only be a trial period, so we need to get people to use it," he said.
Wanaka Chamber of Commerce president Leigh Stock said he thought the business community would underpin the increased air service.
"Eagle Air have come to the party. It is up to us to get in behind, utilise that flight schedule, and make it work."
The current high patronage showed people were using the service and this would not change, he said.
"The potential is there to grow our market. We certainly won't lose it, based on the existing numbers," Mr Stock said.
