Air New Zealand has announced that they will scrap their Invercargill to Wellington service from January 19th next year (2025).

Air New Zealand general manager Domestic Scott Carr blamed the cut-back on tough economic times for a softening in demand due, especially across some of the airlines regional network.

The Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Carey said while she understood the challenges that Air New Zealand faced, the news was disappointing for the community and particularly businesses and individuals that relied on the vital link to Wellington.

"Direct flights play a crucial role in fostering connections for business travel, tourism, and personal journeys, and losing this service could impact our local economy and accessibility,” she said.

It is imperative that we continue to promote Southland as an attractive destination for events, conferences, and tourism.

“Despite the challenges presented by the discontinuation of this service, we remain optimistic about the future of air travel in Southland,” Carey said.

“It’s essential that we work together to enhance our regional connectivity and explore new opportunities for air services that can support our local economy.”