Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor has welcomed the Government’s announcement today to provide $30 million in concessionary loans to regional airlines.

“It’s great to see the Government stepping in. In our case, regional flights provide a lifeline for Marlborough people to access specialist health care services in Christchurch and Wellington. They are also very important for business people and provide an alternative to Air New Zealand, whose route offering is focussed on Auckland and Wellington only.”

Mayor Taylor said Marlborough District Council had been working closely with Sounds Air and advocating to the Government on the need for regional airline support.

“Hopefully we will now see some stabilisation for the regional airline sector in the short to medium term. However, unfortunately it looks inevitable that we will lose the excellent Sounds Air service to and from Christchurch. The alternative is a four-hour drive each way.”

“I’d like to thank ministers Shane Jones and James Meager for their efforts. Hopefully this is a turning point and a change in the mindset at the national level about supporting our critical regional airline infrastructure into the long term as well.”

Mayor Taylor said Sounds Air provided a critical link to and from Wellington from Blenheim (44 flights per week) and Picton (23 flights per week), alongside direct Air New Zealand flights to Wellington and Auckland. Sounds Air also flies to Paraparaumu from Blenheim four times a week.

“Investment in regional airlines such as Sounds Air saves people time and money and enables access to critical services like specialist health care.”

“Longer term certainty for regional airlines will also enable them to plan for the future as the economy grows, with more flights and routes.”

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