Air New Zealand improves service for Dunedin

Press, 2 October 1987, Page 4

Air New Zealand improves service for Dunedin

By

DAVE WILSON

Air New Zealand is improving service for Dunedin passengers, and yesterday announced two extra Friendship services between Christchurch and Dunedin each day. The airline is also poised to spend $1 million on installing an airbridge, a Koru lounge, and a new public lounge, in the Momona Airport terminal. Extra afternoon and evening services to Dunedin are part of a strategy aimed at southern businessmen wanting a full business day in Auckland.

The Air New Zealand move is in part a strengthening ploy should competition from Ansett New Zealand flying into Dunedin eventuate, and also aims at encouraging Dunedin travellers to stay with the airline for their day’s travel. The southern regional manager of Air New Zealand, Mr Paul Bowe, said the extra Friendship connections would begin later this month.

This came after some months of discussion with Dunedin business travellers on their travel time preferences. Until now those wishing to return home on the same day have had to leave Auckland in mid afternoon to make a connection for Dunedin.

. Mr Bowe said the new services would allow Dunedin people to leave at 8.10 a.m. and flyout of

Auckland as late as 6.35 p.m. Mr Bowe said this would be possible because of a later southbound Friendship flight from Christchurch, leaving at 8.15 p.m. and arriving in Dunedin at 9.25 p.m.

The other additional Friendship link south would leave Christchurch at 4.10 p.m. and arrive in Dunedin at 5.20 p.m. For passengers flying north from Dunedin there would be extra flights at 5.30 p.m. and 9.45 p.m.

He said the extra services were not at the expense of any other part of the domestic sector.

“They have been made possible because. of several factors: the fact that the company is increasing the flying hours of its aircraft, and we are leasing another Boeing 767 that will enable us to free other aircraft for services such as this.” However, he emphasised that the airline was not planning to extend any other South Island links at present “But we are constantly monitoring all other South Island airports.”

He said the airline was also keen to begin work on the new airbridge, Koru Lounge and public lounge at Dunedin airport “The two lounges are similar to those in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, but will be slightly smaller to match the traffic through Dunedin.”