Dunedin Airport chief executive Richard Roberts believes a transtasman service will return to Dunedin once the borders open for good.PHOTO: CHRISTINE O’CONNORAir New Zealand could take over a transtasman service from Dunedin Airport, but the airport warns it will not happen until Covid-19 vaccination rates are high enough for normal travel to resume. Dunedin Airport had expected the withdrawal to happen for a while and prepared a business plan, which was presented to Air New Zealand. Airport chief executive Richard Roberts did not see an international service returning until travelling was almost back to normal. Dunedin Airport’s recent statement of intent for the year ending June 2022 budgeted passenger numbers to grow at 5% per year to about 995,000 in 2025-26. She believed the airport’s catchment meant the service was still a "very viable option’’ despite many New Zealand regional airports not having transtasman services anymore.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 09, 2021 16:30 UTC