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.<\/p>\n
Air NZ chief commercial officer Scott Wilkinson said Regional Gotta Go fares had been removed and cited low demand as the reason.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor customers who need to travel at short notice due to bereavement or critical illness, compassionate fares remain available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Compassionate fares could apply to people flying within 48 hours of a family member\u2019s medical crisis or seven days of a family bereavement.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Reid called Air NZ\u2019s decision to axe the fares \u201cgutting\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019t justifiable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reid said the reason demand was low for the Regional Gotta Go fares was because Air NZ didn\u2019t advertise them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told a lot of people about this, adults and young people, and no one had a clue what it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
An Air NZ spokesperson said booking flights from Napier to Christchurch early would \u201ccertainly bring prices down\u201d for people like Reid.<\/p>\n
They said current fares on the Air NZ website from Christchurch to Napier for flights in two months\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum said Hawke\u2019s Bay was a growing region with a strong economy that attracts visitors, investment and residents and has significant opportunities ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cReliable and reasonably priced air connections are an important part of that future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n