AIANZ CE Simon Wallace speaks out on The Post: Airlines call for the Government to save regional air routes

Regional air services are starting to crumble under the weight of soaring government levies and fees, Aviation Industry Association chief executive Simon Wallace says.

Within weeks of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ramping up its fees, levies and charges, in some cases by more than 100%, “regional carriers have started crumbling”, Wallace said.

“Sounds Air has confirmed that it’s axing Blenheim to Christchurch and Christchurch to Wānaka services and selling five aircraft to remain viable. This follows its withdrawal of Wellington to Taupō and Wellington to Westport routes last year,”

Government air traffic control agency Airways has also confirmed it would increase fees for airlines by 17.7% over the next three years.

The hikes would add hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to a range of government agencies in addition to rising airport fees and growing operational and maintenance costs, he said.

“Regional air services are the backbone of connectivity for New Zealand, not just holidaymakers but business, education, freight, healthcare and emergency response capability.”

Text taken from the article by Roeland van den Bergh, read the full article here.

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Read the full article on the post here