Air NZ Paraparaumu flights delayed

[pilotgallagher01]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/...flights-delayed

Thoughts?

I don't really seem why Air NZ want to fly into here considering it's what a 45min drive from Wellington? And Palmy isn't too much away either..
Sure people would like to fly direct there but do you think it's really needed?
I do agree with a ATS service being there though, even if it's just a manned unicom like Ardmore has.

[NZ255]

It would be handy I guess, but i like going into wellington to see the "heavy's" lol 737

[Naki]

Presumably Air NZ have done their homework and there is enough population (which is growing) to support such a operation..no doubt it would also relieve Wellington Airport of some pressure and give them some competition.

[gojozoom]

QUOTE

I don't really seem why Air NZ want to fly into here considering it's what a 45min drive from Wellington?[/quote]
It use to be 45mins years ago when I was Wellington based, in fact at 0500 it was 41mins from the Kapiti Road lights to Wellington Airport. When I left PP 4 years ago it is was significantly longer off peak and a nightmare at peak times. A year ago it took me 1hr 10min to drive from Wellington airport to the Kapiti Aero club in normal afternoon week day traffic.
The other thing is that the population base on the coast has grown heaps. In the nine years that I lived there we saw huge growth. Try driving around PP on a saturday morning or even worse, try going somewhere on a long weekend.
Having said all that I would be a little surprised that there would be the load factors to support a Dash 8, but things change. Take Masterton for example, gone from the odd struggling PA31 service to the 1900.
If it does happen I wonder if we will see a return to the good old days of PP being used as an alternate? AeroTech South might have to modify the F27 steps they have in the hangar.

[gojozoom]

I'm pretty curious about the planned ticket price for an ANZ NZWN-NZPP flight. I'm sure it will be a huge competition for Air2There, which I think will decrease ticket prizes significantly.

[NZ255]

They're only flying to AA at this stage.

[deaneb]

QUOTE (SA227 @ Aug 9 2010, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Having said all that I would be a little surprised that there would be the load factors to support a Dash 8, but things change.

They started to run a Dash8 /Q300 in and out of Blenheim from last year and its been very well supported, not sure how often it fies in and out each week or whether its a daily thing, but once people knew about it, it has become quite popular. I guess this was due in part because of the timing and because people tend to like larger planes. Everytime I have taken a regular sunday 8pm flight to Ak its been almost full. I'm sure PP-AK would be quite viable as you said its a bigger population base and will expand further in the future.

[GlennAV8R]

Perhaps it has something to do with WIAL (Infratil) screwing down operators and tenants on the airfield for every cent to enable them to return a minimum 20% to there shareholders year on year. I would be looking for alternatives also.

[deeknow]

QUOTE (deaneb @ Aug 9 2010, 06:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They started to run a Dash8 /Q300 in and out of Blenheim from last year and its been very well supported, not sure how often it fies in and out each week or whether its a daily thing, but once people knew about it, it has become quite popular.

Dash's run twice daily weekdays I think and a single return on Sundays between AA and WB. I spose if loads arent up to it on the Paraparaumu to AA flights they can always drop the Beech onto it. That Masterton one is an interesting route too huh.

[markll]

QUOTE (pilotgallagher01 @ Aug 8 2010, 11:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't really seem why Air NZ want to fly into here considering it's what a 45min drive from Wellington? And Palmy isn't too much away either..

Why fly direct to Tauranga? Its not that far from Rotorua...

Seriously, as has been pointed out - it's NOT 45 minutes to NZWN from here - not by car or any other land based means. Not even close. And there are something like 30000 people on the Kapiti Coast - that doesn't even count the northern parts of Porirua city's population that would be interested too...sounds like a reasonable population base to me...and with $450m of spending on the airport over the next few years, why wouldn't AirNZ want to give it a go?

Mark

[pilotgallagher01]

Ok guys, I've been shot lol
I take my previous comment back, who the hell did I think I was saying something like that when I'm not even from Wellywood..
I guess like you said, Air NZ would have done there research, will be good to see the future changes happen... haven't landed at NZPP yet, though we were planning a south island trip this weekend via PP though weather isn't too flash so not this weekend..

[markll]

QUOTE (pilotgallagher01 @ Aug 12 2010, 11:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok guys, I've been shot lol
I take my previous comment back, who the hell did I think I was saying something like that when I'm not even from Wellywood..
I guess like you said, Air NZ would have done there research, will be good to see the future changes happen... haven't landed at NZPP yet, though we were planning a south island trip this weekend via PP though weather isn't too flash so not this weekend..

Weather's been good here - you could have always come this far and stayed for the weekend!