Supreme Court runway length ruling grounds some of Air Chathams' fleet

March 29, 2018

Air Chathams took over the Eastern Bay of Plenty service when Air NZ stopped flights to Whakatane.

A regional airline supporting the Eastern Bay of Plenty has been stung by a Supreme Court ruling.

Air Chathams took over the regional service in 2015 when Air New Zealand stopped flights to Whakatane, but a ruling in the country's highest court has grounded some of Air Chathams' fleet.

Last year the Supreme Court ruled Wellington's airport extension should not have been granted with only a 90-metre safety buffer.

And now, where practicable, airports such as Whakatane need to extend their runway end safety area from 90 to 250 metres if they want to support aircraft carrying more than 30 passengers.

"Having that restriction placed on Whakatane Airport has certainly had an affect on our business. We'd certainly like to develop that route more," said Air Chathams general manager Duane Emney.

Mr Emney says plans Air Chathams had to operate larger capacity aircraft like the Saab 340 hasn't been possible due to the 30-seat restriction.

Whakatane airport is jointly owned by the council and the Ministry of Transport.

Extending the safety zone will cost $250,000 and the ministry says it's evaluating the business case. 

Air Chathams has stopped its 50 and 34-seaters from landing at Whakatane Airport until those safety measures are in place.

And although Air New Zealand no longer services the region, Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne says it could be doing more to help.

"When they did pull out they said they were going to embrace and help the feeder airlines. We're still waiting for that interline agreement with them," Mr Bonne said.

But in a statement Air New Zealand told 1 NEWS it doesn't have any interline agreements with domestic carriers.

Meanwhile Air Chathams is in a holding pattern, waiting to get its bigger planes servicing the Eastern Bay of Plenty region.

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