Protests over Air New Zealand's decision to stop services to the Kapiti Coast ramped up yesterday when around 200 locals packed into a meeting at the airport.
The national carrier announced two weeks ago it's canning flights from Kapiti to Auckland.
The local mayor says Kapiti's loss shows a wider issue of how the company treats regions.
"We have become a trigger point for a national debate," said K Gurunathan, Kapiti Mayor.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has criticised the airline over its desertion of small towns.
And there's now concern about the impact it will have on businesses and tourism.
Kapiti business owner Katherine Corich of Sysdoc Group says businesses will be cut off.
"It is about being connected. I've grown up on the Kapiti Coast. It's a fabulous place to be and we have actually felt over the past few years that we do have a real local global feel," she said.
One business has already been impacted - the airport's cafe.
"Basically it means 80 per cent of our turn over is lost in nine days. So we've had to rethink our strategy," said Chris Orchards, of Iland Cafe
In just eight days there will no longer be daily flights from Kapiti to Auckland by Air New Zealand.
Locals are angry they were given little warning that the company would be pulling out of the area.
"I'm disappointed about the way the community was told by Air New Zealand," said Chris Faafoi, Mana MP.
Air New Zealand say's it'll provide support to any other airline that wishes to operate the route.
And Air Chathams is keen to take it on.
A spokesman said the demand is there and people want to travel out of their own airport, not have to drive an hour to catch a plane.
Air Chathams will know by Friday if it can get it off the ground.
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