Originally Posted by
propaganda
With the proposed RWY extensions @ Napier & New Pymouth on the cards..that's 2 more routes .. The A320 family is the most cost effective replacement for the B733...unless Air NZ get Micheal O'leary to negotiate the deal for NG's with Boeing.....
The jet has already operated Napier on sched services years ago however the market could not sustain an aircraft that size. New Plymouth has also had the B737 operate but on charter only.
The A320 series will never replace the B733 on domestic, as the ownership/lease cost is the driver not the operating cost (at least until gas reaches $200 a barrel) and with AKL WLG having a flight time of just on 45 minutes and WLG CHC less than 30 minutes, then the aircraft is going to have to be very cheap to lease/own before it becomes cost efficent to operate.