Air New Zealand is axing 15 return flights from New Plymouth Airport between 29 June and 26 July to manage the rising cost of jet fuel.
12 return flights between New Plymouth and Auckland will be dropped from the schedule along with three return flights to Wellington.
An update provided to stakeholders by Air New Zealand attributed the schedule reduction directly to the volatile global energy market.
"Unfortunately, jet fuel continues to track significantly higher than typical prices," a spokesperson for the airline said.
"As a result, I am afraid to let you know that we’ve made another difficult decision to further consolidate a small portion of services between 29 June and 26 July across our regional, domestic, short and long-haul networks."
They added the company has "once again focused on lower-demand and off-peak services wherever possible."
Larger aircraft will be used on some of the remaining schedules to help offset the cancelled flights. Select Auckland routes will be upgauged from the standard 50-seat Q300 turboprops to the larger 68-seat ATR72 planes to maintain passenger capacity.
South Island connections will remain fully intact. Planners will keep all services on the New Plymouth to Christchurch route and will also upgauge flights on this run to the ATR72.
These schedule adjustments have been confirmed just weeks after New Plymouth Mayor Max Brough publicly criticised the airline over the prospect of network reductions.
Speaking to RNZ last month, Brough warned that continuous cuts would severely impact the district. He noted that 1,000 people pass through New Plymouth Airport daily and called the prospect of schedule changes a worry.
Brough also questioned the value the national carrier brings to provincial areas when they face consistent service reductions.
"We've sort of become price takers in this equation and if I sit back and I look at it, I go: what are Air New Zealand doing for us as regions?"
Global jet fuel prices have fluctuated wildly after conflict broke out in the Middle East. Shipping routes for global oil through the critical Hormuz Strait have faced heavy disruptions. Ongoing volatility recently forced Air New Zealand to suspend its earnings guidance.
Consistent air services are vital for Taranaki as commuting by road is often complicated by weather disruptions on State Highway 3 heading north. That makes air travel the most reliable option for many local businesses and residents.
The current closure of State Highway 3 through Awakino Gorge is a prime example. It remains completely closed following major slips that struck on 18 April.
NZTA roading crews are actively working to clear an estimated 12,000-16,000 cubic metres of mud and debris, with a spokesperson confirming the route will reopen on Saturday afternoon with limited single-lane escorted convoys.
Permanent repairs will still be required to fully secure the route, according to an NZTA spokesperson.
This latest disruption highlights an ongoing resilience problem for our region.
In a press release from the National Road Carriers Association, commercial transport specialist Paula Rogers said SH3 has been closed seven times in the last 12 months.
She noted these closures were caused by "rockfalls, heavy rainfall causing flooding, slips and mudslides and a planned five-day full closure in January" to replace a major culvert at Ahititi.
📸 Thanks to James Butler for the photo
