It is good that Originair is starting weekend flights between Nelson and Christchurch next month. These add to its current services between Nelson and Wellington and Nelson and Palmerston North. Originair started a new service between Blenheim and Christchurch last October that is proving successful.
These new flights to Christchurch are a significant step towards more competitive services for Nelson. Christchurch’s economy is on the up and will get a further boost with the opening of the One NZ Te Kaha Stadium in April. Christchurch is also growing its international flights with more destinations to Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
It would be ideal for the new service to be more frequent and for Originair to also provide choice on the Nelson-Auckland route. I have also advocated for improved services south, to Dunedin, Queenstown or Wanaka that may be possible as extensions of the new Originair Christchurch service.
My enthusiasm for competition is driven by Air NZ’s outrageous fares that can sometimes exceed $500 for short-notice flights to Christchurch or Auckland. The fares were much more competitive when Jetstar was here.
My worry with the new Originair service to Christchurch is that Air NZ will unfairly use its market dominance to undermine it. I have seen Air NZ previously change its timetable and temporarily slash its fares to eliminate competition.
I wrote last week to the Commerce Commission asking it to closely monitor the Nelson-Christchurch route for anti-competitive behaviour. The Government is rightly giving the Commission more teeth in a bill introduced last month by Minister Scott Simpson to tackle predatory pricing.
I am also encouraging Nelson Airport, owned jointly by our two Councils, to do all it can to help facilitate competition. It upgraded its apron last year, making more space for alternative aircraft and is next month extending the covered walkway to improve the customer experience for Originair and Sounds Air passengers.
Nelsonians should check out and use these competing airlines. You will be helping maintain competition and supporting local businesses. I am meeting with Air NZ and the Commerce Commission next month to further this work. Improved air services are vital to Nelson’s future.
