AIR NZ Cuts Domestic Routes

Air New Zealand will no longer fly to Kaitaia, Whakatane or Westport.

The airline has today released the outcome of a review of its regional aircraft operations, which has been looking at the use of its 19 seat aircraft.

Chief executive Christopher Luxon says Eagle Airways, which operates the small planes, has been losing one million dollars a month for the past two years.

As a result, the following routes will be canned from April next year - Kaitaia to Auckland, Whakatane to Auckland, Whangarei to Wellington, Taupo to Wellington, Westport to Wellington and Palmerston North to Nelson.

Hamilton to Auckland will also stop operating from February 2016.

Air New Zealand will however invest 100 million dollars in moving all other regional routes to using either 50 or 68 seat aircraft.