Air NZ leaves Queenstown Lakes travellers with fewer options

Schedule changes by Air New Zealand on its Queenstown to Christchurch route is set to limit same-day travel between the destinations in a move that is particularly frustrating for business.

A regular 7am flight to Christchurch will be dropped, along with a regular return evening flight landing in Queenstown a little after 8.30pm.

Users of the service have reported bookings from next year being rescheduled.

Air New Zealand has confirmed the changes and blames two contributing factors - tough economic times and global engine maintenance issues.

"Over recent months, we’ve seen domestic demand soften across most customer segments in response to a tough economic backdrop. This is most evident on some of our regional network. Concurrently, we also have aircraft out of service due to global engine maintenance issues," the airline's domestic general manager Scott Carr says.

"As a result, we’ve made some adjustments to our schedule, including the first flight of the morning from Queenstown to Christchurch being moved to an ATR, rather than a jet. This will depart slightly later – just before 9am. The last service from Christchurch to Queenstown will be mid-afternoon. This is due to lower demand and daylight operating limits for turboprops."

Queenstown Airport chief executive Glen Sowry says the decision is disappointing and will affect those who travel regularly to Christchurch and Wellington for business.

"This schedule change means it will no longer be possible for people to make a same-day trip to either Christchurch or Wellington, and an overnight stay will now be required," Mr Sowry says.

"As the Southern Lakes region continues to grow its population, including many professional people who now call the region home, this reduction in connectivity will be inconvenient. 

"We hope these services are reinstated as soon as possible to support regular business travellers to both Wellington and Christchurch."

Mr Carr says a "significant amount of care and planning" goes into ensuring Air New Zealand's domestic network services communities across the country "as well as possible". 

"To do this, Air New Zealand must also ensure its operations are financially sustainable."

Queenstown customers with existing bookings are being reaccommodated, he says.

"We apologise for any inconvenience.”

Crux understands the current flight schedule also helps Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes travellers connect with international flights and attend medical appointments at hospitals outside the region.

The news comes off the back of reports earlier in the week the airline is canning direct flights between Invercargill and Wellington from January.

Main image (Supplied/Queenstown Airport):