NZ regional airline Sounds Air cuts routes
New Zealand regional airline Sounds Air is cutting routes, citing ‘out of control’ costs.
The airline will scrap the Blenheim to Christchurch and Christchurch to Wānaka routes from late September.
It cancelled two Wellington routes several months ago and sold an aircraft to reign in costs.
“In the last three months, we’ve had another half a million dollars of annual costs imposed on the business and at some point, you’ve just got to say ‘no more,” Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said.
The focus will now revert to its core regional services, and it will sell its fleet of five Pilatus aircraft.
It will mean the loss of 10 jobs from its Wānaka and Christchurch airport bases.
Crawford said passenger traffic is up but the high costs are close to making the business unviable.
Another restrictive cost impacting demand is the recent hike of the passenger service levy, he said.
Related News Stories: Air New Zealand joins AAPA SkyTeam Airline Alliance | Official Website Profile – [email protected] Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) - TravelMole Partner News - TravelMole Qatar Airways - TravelMole Newmarket Holidays - TravelMole APT Travel Group - TravelMole DidaTravel - TravelMole Pleasant Holidays | Journese - TravelMole
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.
































TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026