Remember Guys,
AirNZ thought long and hard before it pulled out of PMR. The Tasman is its bread and butter and cannot afford to get it wrong.
The withdrawal from HLZ is seasonal (next winter) only. I'm sure they have thought long and hard about this one too.
The bean counters at Air NZ will have worked long and hard to weigh up whether or not stopping these spoiler flights in to these poor performing markets are worth the risk of a competitor having a go.
I seem to remember PMR airport coming to a well publicised agreement with Ozjet after AirNZ pulled out. Ozjet couldnt manage one service.
Freedom had been going to PMR and HLZ for several years and had done a lot of advertising over that time, and in fact it was a matter of town pride that jet services were available. Local councils and business leaders were all given the "use it or lose it" message as well.
It will be a very cheap operation indeed that can make money in summer, let alone all year round from these places.