Inaugural flight from Taupo to Wellington for Sounds Air

3 June 2015

Sounds Air took off from Taupo bound for Wellington for the first time yesterday morning, with plenty of happy passengers on board.

The first flight took off from Taupo Airport at 9.20am and had a smooth flight into Wellington a few minutes ahead of schedule.

Mayor David Trewavas was on board and met Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown at Wellington Airport. The pair believed the service was mutually beneficial.

As a capital, it's important that everywhere is able to connect to Wellington, Ms Wade-Brown said.

She says Wellingtonians would be sure to take advantage of the service. The idea of a long weekend in Taupo is very attractive. I'm sure there will be plenty of holidaymakers from Wellington.

Mr Trewavas said it was great to see the service in action and he thoroughly enjoyed his first flight. He expected uptake to be strong. We know our business community and residents depend on being able to fly to Wellington and we are pleased this connection has been restored, he said.

Taupo MP Louise Upston was also on the first flight, and agreed it was imperative the district was connected to the big smoke. Lots of businesses in the district had ties with Wellington and this would provide a vital link between the two, she said.

Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said the company was pleased to bring these planes to Taupo. The company had also recently started flying out of Westport and he said the reception there had been unbelievable.

Taupo local Richard Balm was one of those on the first flight and said he travels to Wellington once a week for work. He had been driving to Rotorua Airport following the end of the Air New Zealand service and said flying from Taupō was the preferred option by a long way.

It makes it viable to live in Taupo, he said. I often fly last minute so flights get expensive, so I like the flat rate [provided by Sounds Air].

The environmental planning consultant said the planes were fantastic and much more comfortable than those he had flown in previously on the route.

The council entered into a six-year agreement with Marlborough-based air operator Sounds Air to provide at least three return flights on each week day and two return flights on Saturdays and Sundays. This was in response to an announcement by Air New Zealand in November last year that it would stop offering the service from the end of April.

Flights take about 45 minutes and are on a nine-seater Pilatus PC12 - a single-engine, turboprop plane widely used in Australia and the United States and manufactured in Switzerland.

Seats are offered at a fixed price of $219 per flight regardless of when booked. Concessions for 10 flights at $209 per seat are also available.

Anyone wanting to book a flight can do so online at www.soundsair.com or phone 0800 505 005..

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz