Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson has announced a $640,000 loan to help expand Stewart Island Flights’ fleet from four to five aircraft. The announcement was made during the AIANZ annual conference in Wellington, where regional connectivity was a key discussion topic.
Patterson said the loan would help the airline better meet peak season demand and maintain scheduled services when unforeseen maintenance delays occur. He noted the funding would also support island residents’ access to healthcare and education, improve emergency response times, and boost local tourism, trade and business activity.
The loan forms part of a $30 million Regional Infrastructure Fund package established last year to help regional airlines manage debt, maintain fleets and continue operating essential routes.
AIANZ Chief Executive Simon Wallace said the Government, officials and industry had made genuine progress on regional connectivity over the past year, though he cautioned that rising fuel costs continued to pose a significant challenge for the sector.
Minister for Aviation James Meager said the Government was also working to reduce regulatory burden for regional airports, pointing to recent changes introducing shorter runway end safety area requirements for smaller airports, a move supporters argue reflects updated safety assessments rather than reduced standards.
Stewart Island Flights operates a small piston-engine fleet, including Britten Norman Islanders, a Piper Cherokee Six and a Cessna 185, providing scheduled flights, charters, and sightseeing tours to Invercargill and remote parts of the island.