Minister Cools Air NZ Call for ‘Situational’ Subsidies on Regional Routes

Overview

• Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said temporary government support may be needed to keep some routes going when demand is weak.
• Associate Transport Minister James Meager said the airline has not formally sought subsidies and any taxpayer funding would be weighed against health, education and infrastructure needs.
• Meager urged the carrier to focus on its commercial operations before looking to government assistance.
• Whakatāne mayor Nándor Tánczos backed targeted subsidies and said support should extend to smaller operators such as Air Chathams.
• Whakatāne’s Auckland service survived with a council loan, marketing help and landing‑fee relief, and a recent government loan scheme, after Air New Zealand left the town about a decade ago.