Air New Zealand connects Dunedin to Australia April 4 2008
It was an eclectic mix of the travel industry and business representatives that gathered at PriceWaterhouse Coopers last night to celebrate the launch of Air New Zealand services to Dunedin.
Amongst the illustrious crowd were Sarah Craig, the New Zealand Consul-General, Peter Chin, the Mayor of Dunedin, John Weiss, the CEO of Trans-Tasman Business Circle Australia, Richard Walls, Chairman of Dunedin
International Airport, Murray Walker, Chairman of Dunedin Tourism, and of course, the guest of honour, Rob Fyfe, CEO of Air New Zealand.
Speeches were delivered by several of the eminent guests who have been involved in the development of Air New Zealand services to Dunedin.
The mayor of Dunedin, Peter Chin, thanked everybody for their involvement, espousing his home town as he claimed he was "yet to meet anyone with an association with Dunedin who speaks ill of Dunedin."
"It is a very special place."
He pointed to the future of Dunedin, as it begins to flourish through support such as the industry present. "After all of the money, energy and effort invested in making it happen," Mr Chin explained to laughter and applause, his deepest desire was for the industries present to assist in "filling every flight ever day..that would be tremendous."
The announcement of the routes throughout New Zealand, connecting Dunedin with the North, follows the news of Monday that Hilton Hotels is planning to develop a hotel in Dunedin. Mr Chin proudly noted that "it is a recognition by one of the world’s leading hotel chains that Dunedin has made it."
Mr Chin recognised that international air travel was what Dunedin required to be opened up to the world, and he said, "Air New Zealand having links through us now creates opportunities that are really important for us."
The next speaker, Richard Walls, Chairman of Dunedin International Airport, had a hard act to follow, as Mr Chin exited the stage singing the traditional song of the First Peoples.
Mr Walls had nothing but praise for his hometown of Dunedin, claiming that of the three islands of New Zealand, "it is from South New Zealand that of course Air New Zealand gets its name."
He aspired for the strong links between Australia and New Zealand to be re-vitalised, aiming to divulge "one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets," namely, Dunedin.
The important of the university in Dunedin was a repeating theme throughout the evening, as Mr Walls recognised that, perhaps for Sydney, a direct flight to Dunedin was not of the most significance, but for Dunedin and for the university, this flight was a hugely significant route.
Mr Walls finished with recognition, that although "Airports have to preserve a level runway...with this route, Air New Zealand stakes its ownership to the patch."
The anticipated guest of honour, Rob Fyfe, explained to the audience the challenging role that Air New Zealand must balance as a small airline surrounded by larger ones. The airline, he claimed, is "not about vision and goals, but is about who we are and what to bring to our customers."
He recognised that Air New Zealand is a tourism business, as over two-thirds of their passengers on long-haul flights are visitors to New Zealand.
Mr Fyfe discussed the culture of Dunedin as parallel to that of Air New Zealand, as they "have a culture with engaging with our passengers…but that's just what a New Zealander would do".
Although tough times are looming for the airline business, Mr Fyfe praised airlines for not increasing airfares despite toughening fuel prices. HE recognised that demand is falling, but praised the year on year increase in 2007 of international passenger volume by a staggering 17%.
The unique approach of Air New Zealand is contrary to most commercial businesses; in tougher times, most aim to cut costs, but Mr Fyfe reveals his strategy to require more effort and investment into the business so “that whoever is flying chooses to fly with us."
Mr Fyfe closed with his ambitions for the Dunedin - Australia services, recognising the potential of the south for tourism and business travels. His commitment to expanding services was evident, as the Dunedin route follows new services to Beijing and Vancouver.
Air New Zealand plans, through the new routes, and better services, such as concierges onboard from May, "to make more money with low fares and more people, not the other way around."