Cheaper domestic airfares on way for Hawke's Bay

One-way fares between Hawke's Bay and the main centres are set to be cut by between 10 and 18 per cent as Air New Zealand seeks to stimulate tourism.

The airline announced the cuts yesterday following its involvement in a special "Think Regional" tourism forum in Nelson last week, which was attended by a Bay delegation of George Hickton, Annie Dundas, Fenton Wilson and Wayne Wootton.

The cuts show a one-way flight between the Bay and Auckland could be available for $79 - a drop of 11 per cent, while a one-way trip to Christchurch is listed as $89 - down 18 per cent.

The airline's group general manager Australasia, Bruce Parton, said the lead-in airfare changes followed recent cuts to domestic trunk fares and were a direct response to feedback from those who attended the forum.

"While we are now working on longer-terms strategic initiatives with each of these regions, one immediate action Air New Zealand can take is to reduce fares to make leisure travel even more attractive. We already announced a big reduction in the price of fares into Queenstown and, today, we're pleased to also deliver fare reductions into all of the other regions who participated," Mr Parton said.

Those regions are Nelson, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Marlborough, Tauranga and Queenstown.

However in announcing the cuts, Air New Zealand did underline that they were lead-in fares and seat-only charges.

Lead-in fares, which are offered online up to two months or more in advance, effectively sold out first and "may not be available on all flights".

Mr Parton said the latest cuts would see the airline offering more than one million individual fares under $100 this year.

Hawke's Bay Tourism chairman George Hickton said the news was great for the region.

"Domestic tourism is vitally important for all regions in New Zealand and Hawke's Bay is delighted to be part of this initiative to stimulate tourism growth."

"We need New Zealanders seeing more of their own backyard, and reduced airfares combined with great regional experiences will stimulate more interest in domestic tourism."