[ad_1]
Maarten Holl / Things
Snapper and Metlink services will return to Wellington’s Airport Flyer after nearly two years.
Travelers entering and leaving the capital during the Christmas and holiday period will not have access to the Airport Flyer bus.
The current service operated by NZ Bus will end on November 27, giving way to a new service operated by Tranzit in early 2021.
A Wellington airport spokeswoman could not provide an exact date for when the new service would operate or how much it would cost, but said the service would be operational in the first quarter of 2021 at a “good price.”
Meanwhile, Wellington Airport is encouraging the use of the Metlink # 2 bus, which can be taken near the airport, and other travel options such as taxis and ride-sharing apps.
READ MORE:
* Fight again to save Hutt Valley airport bus service after regional council says it’s not feasible
* Wellington Airport Flyer bus service stopped until July after coronavirus lockdown
* The Airport Flyer, the bus that doesn’t always show up
The new service will be accessible to Snapper card users and Metlink’s real-time information displays.
It will run seven days a week, with more frequent and reliable scheduling, an airport spokesperson said.
The Airport Flyer had not accepted Snapper cards since February 2019, when it was pulled from Metlink services by NZ Bus, an unpopular move with many Wellington residents, in part due to the lower reliability of the service.
Nicholas Boyack / Things
The Airport Flyer had proven to be unreliable and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop wanted the service reviewed.
Monday’s announcement brought disappointment to some, as the new service will no longer extend to the Hutt Valley, just between the airport and downtown.
Previously, Hutt South-based MP Chris Bishop ran an online vocal campaign, Fix the Flyer, for the Greater Wellington Regional Council to take over the service.
Bishop said Monday’s announcement was disappointing, given strong demand for the service in the Hutt Valley.
He expected to meet with Wellington and Tranzit airport in the next month to discuss whether it was possible to extend the service to Hutt Valley.
SUPPLIED
Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry said the decision not to extend the new Airport Flyer service to Hutt Valley was shortsighted.
“I have already had a brief chat with the airport and I understand that they are open to that,” he said.
Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry said he was also disappointed by the decision, which he called “myopic.”
“I will write to Wellington Airport and its new operator to challenge this decision and ask them to reconsider their commitment to Lower Hutt,” he said.
Leanne Gibson of Wellington Airport said the impact of Covid-19 had made it difficult for the airport’s bus services to operate, but she believed the market would change.
Kevin Stent / Stuff
Wellington Airport said the Flyer would transition to electric buses at some point in the future.
“We recognize the importance of reliable bus service and are working hard to get a replacement up and running as soon as possible,” he said.
“The number of domestic passengers is increasing, reaching around 60 percent of normal in recent months and future growth looks positive. The airport bus has been used successfully as a commercial service in the past and will be so again. “
