Delays in getting airline flying | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Wairarapa's newest air service is experiencing delays getting airborne.

Air2there flew its inaugural Masterton-Paraparaumu flight last month but continued problems getting all the necessary civil aviation authorisations means that regular flights will not start until mid-December.

Air2there boss Murray Cole confirmed yesterday a couple of passengers had had bookings cancelled because of the delays getting all the paperwork sorted.

"We are now 80 per cent certain that the airline will be flying by December 14," Mr Cole said.

He said work with the Civil Aviation Authority over approving the planes, pilots and proposed routes is continuing.

The company's proposed start-up date is being reassessed twice a week but the company is still hopeful of making the December 14 deadline and is now taking bookings from that date on.

In the event of full approval not coming through by that time there are contingency plans to subcontract other planes and pilots, he said.

"We have a plan B," Mr Cole said.

Getting the airline up and running is a meticulous process and needs to be done right.

"It's better there are little delays now and we get it right to start with," he said.

Air2there is proposing a shuttle service incorporating Masterton, Wellington, Blenheim, Paraparaumu and Palmerston North, with flights for as low as $28.