Flights directly between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown were excluded from the deal, but the scheme included flights from those centres to regional towns.
Air NZ chief commercial officer Scott Wilkinson said Regional Gotta Go fares had been removed and cited low demand as the reason.
“We know affordable air connectivity is important for regional communities, and we will continue to offer a range of fares across our network, including deals through Grabaseat.
“For customers who need to travel at short notice due to bereavement or critical illness, compassionate fares remain available.”
Compassionate fares could apply to people flying within 48 hours of a family member’s medical crisis or seven days of a family bereavement.
Louie Reid, 20, a student at the University of Canterbury originally from Havelock North, said he would use the Regional Gotta Go fares around four times a year from Christchurch to Napier.
He said to get a Regional Gotta Go fare, he would call Air NZ on the day he would fly and get a seat reasonably easily, occasionally having to wait for later flights.
Reid called Air NZ’s decision to axe the fares “gutting”.
“I’m not going to be able to head home as much to see my family because even if you book two months out, you could be paying upwards of $600 return, which for a lot of students isn’t justifiable.”
Reid said the reason demand was low for the Regional Gotta Go fares was because Air NZ didn’t advertise them.
“I told a lot of people about this, adults and young people, and no one had a clue what it was.”
An Air NZ spokesperson said booking flights from Napier to Christchurch early would “certainly bring prices down” for people like Reid.
They said current fares on the Air NZ website from Christchurch to Napier for flights in two months’ time were available from $114 one way and cheaper tickets were still available through Grabaseat, with flights between Napier and Christchurch at time of writing available from $109.
Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum said Hawke’s Bay was a growing region with a strong economy that attracts visitors, investment and residents and has significant opportunities ahead.
“Reliable and reasonably priced air connections are an important part of that future,” she said.
Air NZ last week said it would cut more flights from late July to late October because of volatile jet fuel prices.
The schedule adjustments would be across the domestic and international network.
The airline has also been undertaking what it called a “reset” after posting a $40 million loss after tax in the first half of the current financial year.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.