Call to Keep Christchurch to Japan Direct Flights

The Canterbury Mayoral Forum – which includes 10 mayors and the chair of Environment Canterbury - is calling on Air New Zealand to retain summer direct flights between Christchurch and Japan to protect millions of dollars of direct economic benefit to regional Canterbury.

Air New Zealand has confirmed that seasonal Japan flights – which normally finish around now – will not operate next summer.

Dame Margaret Bazley, Chair of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum, said the decision is disappointing and does not take into account the special needs of regional economies such as Canterbury.

“The direct flights are crucial for the many specialist Canterbury niche exporters who use the flights to get high-value and time-sensitive merchandise to Japan. If the current direct flights are not available, many of these opportunities simply would not be viable, and the regional economy would suffer.”

This includes specialist seafood and seasonal flowers, which have been exported direct out of Christchurch for years.

“Export dollars may well be lost – as well as tourist dollars and regional employment. The mayors fear that the Canterbury economy will suffer because of decisions made elsewhere.”

“People who fly direct to Christchurch tend to stay longer and spend more money than those who arrive elsewhere. The overseas tourists travel and spend widely throughout Canterbury – not just in the main centres – which provides significant regional economic benefits to areas such as the Mackenzie District, Kaikoura, and Oamaru.

“If tourists fly into Auckland, most of them will then fly direct to Queenstown. Statistics show very few will then travel any further and their expenditure will be lost to the Canterbury economy.”

END

© Scoop Media