Latest news with #DanielDeBono
1News
25-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
International flights return to Dunedin
The first international flight in five years returned to Dunedin yesterday. There would now be three return Jetstar connections to the Gold Coast weekly, and the mayor said the city would build more accommodation if needed. Dunedin's first international flights landed in 1994, but paused during Covid lockdowns. Teen Benjamin Paterson petitioned to get them back, more than 25,000 signed, and he met with the Prime Minister last year to campaign. "It's really exciting to be on the first flight because it's a big honour," he told 1News, checking in. ADVERTISEMENT Benjamin Paterson. (Source: 1News) Now flying Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Airbus A320s will deliver 58,000 seats annually, a 3.5 hour trip each way. "Back in the mid-2000s this place hosted over 100,000 international passengers a year," Dunedin Airport chief executive Daniel De Bono said. "So we know the market's there." City hotels fill up for graduations, concerts and rugby, but Dunedin's only been at 70% capacity in the latest annual data, with new visitors only staying two nights on average, booking 75,000 nights a year in total. "We're back to pre-Covid levels of accommodation," Motel on George owner Chris Roy said. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Trump's swearing, thousands of new homes for Canterbury, and a strong start for Lulu Sun. (Source: Breakfast) ADVERTISEMENT Mayor Jules Radich also told 1News: "We do have enough hotel, motel accommodation here in Dunedin... But if that steady stream of visitors turns into a flood, then we will react accordingly. We will build accordingly." Australian tourists currently spend $38 million a year in Dunedin. Jetstar's also offering what's called 'open jaw ticketing' - for passengers to fly into Dunedin and out of Queenstown in one booking.
Otago Daily Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Direct flights across the Ditch set to leave the runway
Direct international flights return to Dunedin Airport tomorrow. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Fasten your seatbelts Dunedin, it is almost time for liftoff. The first of Jetstar's direct flights bound for Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta, Queensland, is scheduled to leave the runway at Dunedin Airport tomorrow. The new thrice-weekly service marks the return of regular direct international flights at the airport, which has been without transtasman services since early 2020. With a flight time of about three and a-half hours, the service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using Jetstar's Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft, delivering up to 58,000 seats annually between the two cities. Dunedin Airport chief executive Daniel De Bono said it had taken years of hard work, detailed modelling and relationship-building to secure the service. "We've had to be persistent and a bit creative to get this over the line, and I couldn't be prouder of what's been achieved together. "We've kept our international facilities ready to go, but we've also refreshed key aspects of the customer journey." The service would open the door for international guests to rediscover Dunedin and southern attractions, and showed the airport was serious about building its place in the international network, Mr De Bono said. To mark the inaugural flight's arrival in Dunedin tomorrow, landmarks including Tōitu Otago Settlers Museum, Tūhura Otago Museum, St Paul's Cathedral and the Dunedin Railway Station's clock face will be lit up in Jetstar orange. Direct travel between Dunedin and Australia was severed when Virgin Australia suspended its New Zealand services at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, having previously offered two to three weekly flights from the city. Dunedin Airport had since offered a couple of one-off chartered international flights, including three Qantas flights for last year's Pink concert and a Fiji Airlines flight, which transported the supporters of the Fijian Drua to watch their team's match against the Highlanders. — APL
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin Airport lashes out at government
Dunedin Airport has accused the government of double-dipping and questionable law-making in a submission calling on it to abandon a move which raises the cost of bringing back international flights. Under the new legislation, airports that intend to start or restart international services will be required to pay for the establishment costs for border services. The new regulations are expected to come into force shortly, but Dunedin Airport's chief executive Daniel De Bono argued it was tantamount to double-dipping from the government, as the costs of processing international travellers would be funded from the existing border processing levies. In the letter to Parliament's regulation review committee, Mr De Bono said: "We cannot comprehend why a government that is focused on economic growth would make new regulations that are targeted at regional airports and severely inhibit their ability to develop international connectivity." Dunedin Airport had international flights from 1995 until Covid-19 hit the industry in 2020. It resumes international flights this month, with a JetStar connection to the Gold Coast. "As with all international routes at smaller airports, the economics are finely balanced," Mr De Bono's letter said. "When negotiating and agreeing terms, Dunedin Airport and JetStar did not anticipate that the government would take steps to impose significant additional costs on the venue. "The wider effect of cost recovery ... is to create a real constraint on regional tourism and economic growth." Mr De Bono said he did not believe the original intention of the Act was to "unexpectedly be used to impose more levies". This would lead to "serious unfairness and unreasonableness" for airports attempting to re-establish international travel and would have immediate effect on Dunedin Airport, he said. Mr De Bono also provided a legal letter from law firm Russell McVeagh. The legal letter also cast doubts on the government's approach. "Our view is that the proposal to now recover costs under the Airports Act is legally unnecessary," it said. "In pursuing options for recovery under the Airports Act, Cabinet and officials appear to be relying on a mistaken view of the law, leaving their decisions open to legal challenge. "It cannot be correct that there is a presumption in favour of using the Airports Act for new international airports simply because it exists." In response, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard told the Otago Daily Times customs screening at airports had been cost-recovered for decades. "Cost recovery is for the actual and reasonable cost of providing biosecurity and customs services. "In relation to Dunedin International Airport, the Ministry for Primary Industries [MPI] has worked hard to ensure the establishment costs are fair and reasonable, including reusing existing equipment where possible. "Under the Airports Act, if an airport chooses to start or re-start international air services, the costs incurred by the MPI and New Zealand Customs to establish a traveller processing capacity (establishment costs) and the processing of travellers (operating costs) can be recovered from the airport." Mr Hoggard said cost recovery for establishing or re-establishing international flights was "reasonable" as "the benefits from these flights are received by the airport and those who use the airport".
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Airport challenges govt regulations
Dunedin Airport has accused the government of double-dipping and questionable law-making in a submission calling on it to abandon a move which raises the cost of bringing back international flights. Under the new legislation, airports that intend to start or restart international services will be required to pay for the establishment costs for border services. The new regulations are expected to come into force shortly, but Dunedin Airport's chief executive Daniel De Bono argued it was tantamount to double-dipping from the government, as the costs of processing international travellers would be funded from the existing border processing levies. In the letter to Parliament's regulation review committee, Mr De Bono said: "We cannot comprehend why a government that is focused on economic growth would make new regulations that are targeted at regional airports and severely inhibit their ability to develop international connectivity." Dunedin Airport had international flights from 1995 until Covid-19 hit the industry in 2020. It resumes international flights this month, with a JetStar connection to the Gold Coast. "As with all international routes at smaller airports, the economics are finely balanced," Mr De Bono's letter said. "When negotiating and agreeing terms, Dunedin Airport and JetStar did not anticipate that the government would take steps to impose significant additional costs on the venue. "The wider effect of cost recovery ... is to create a real constraint on regional tourism and economic growth." Mr De Bono said he did not believe the original intention of the Act was to "unexpectedly be used to impose more levies". This would lead to "serious unfairness and unreasonableness" for airports attempting to re-establish international travel and would have immediate effect on Dunedin Airport, he said. Mr De Bono also provided a legal letter from law firm Russell McVeagh. The legal letter also cast doubts on the government's approach. "Our view is that the proposal to now recover costs under the Airports Act is legally unnecessary," it said. "In pursuing options for recovery under the Airports Act, Cabinet and officials appear to be relying on a mistaken view of the law, leaving their decisions open to legal challenge. "It cannot be correct that there is a presumption in favour of using the Airports Act for new international airports simply because it exists." In response, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard told the Otago Daily Times customs screening at airports had been cost-recovered for decades. "Cost recovery is for the actual and reasonable cost of providing biosecurity and customs services. "In relation to Dunedin International Airport, the Ministry for Primary Industries [MPI] has worked hard to ensure the establishment costs are fair and reasonable, including reusing existing equipment where possible. "Under the Airports Act, if an airport chooses to start or re-start international air services, the costs incurred by the MPI and New Zealand Customs to establish a traveller processing capacity (establishment costs) and the processing of travellers (operating costs) can be recovered from the airport." Mr Hoggard said cost recovery for establishing or re-establishing international flights was "reasonable" as "the benefits from these flights are received by the airport and those who use the airport".
