Vunder31

The new direct service will be operated six days a week by Air New Zealand Link carrier Eagle Air using a 19 seat Beech 1900D aircraft. Prices between Masterton and Auckland start from $115 one way ($105 via internet) and fares to and from other points around New Zealand will also be available.

Departs Arrives Days
Masterton-Auckland 0705 0820 Monday-Friday
Auckland-Masterton 1830 1945 Sunday-Thursday
Auckland-Masterton 1900 2015 Friday only
Masterton-Auckland 2030 2145 Friday only

Your CRS will be updated in due course.

Kiwi Flyer

A new route for me to fly. Not yet loaded on www.airnz.co.nz

kiwibigdave

Yup, with the obvious down-side that you'd have to visit Masterton

davidrnz

No morning flight Auckland-Masterton?

I guess nobody wants to go there, they only want to leave.

I just entered Masterton into Google Earth to see where the airstrip was and it came back with "Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand"

evanroberts

It is in the Wellington Regional Council territory.

Now, if you happen to find yourself stuck in Masterton, exploring new NZ routes I can recommend the cafe by the cinema on Queen St (about 230 Queen St). The restaurant in the Horseshoe building at the north end of town by the roundabout is not bad. The cafe at Aratoi which is the local museum is ok too. The museum is small but if you're in town and have nothing else to do ... Shear Discovery is also worth visiting. Given the timing of the flights you would have to stay two nights to "do" the museums (and they would take up the morning at most).

I hold no great brief for Masterton, but it's possible to enjoy yourself there.

Blackcloud

What about holding Kiwi Do III there and start it with a Thursday flight down to Masterton?
Lots to do in the 'rarapa, and they have a newish hospital there , although transport can be a bit of an issue.
I doubt that I would be using this route, hmm goes to boss I have to go to Masterton eg. WLG-AKL-Masterton (what is the code?).

everywhere

... Mro

Kiwi Flyer

It's Kiwi Mainland Do 3 so stretching things to call Wairarapa "mainland".

BTW there has also been Kiwi dos in WLG (1) and AKL (2).

jofegan

It looks like the taxiway for the Masterton Airport (at least from Google Earth) is dirt.

Does the airport have any terminal facilities? I couldn't tell looking at the website.

--jofegan

cavemanzk

I beleave that there will be a small terminal built and the taxi way upgraded.

taupo

Having spent 5 years just north of Masterton at a high school, I can tell you that Masterton is not a destination I would go to, except I have friends who live close by I meet up with each time I go to NZ. The beauty of driving as opposed to flying, I can avoid Masterton itself.

MrSydney

Taupo'

I have to agree with you 100% on that one. I lived there for 3 months in 2003and thankfully I never have to return. While the locals are friendly enough, Masterton itself has no redeeming features whatsoever.

I wish NZ had this new service back when i used to visit MRO fairly regulary.

evanroberts

This thread has been good for a laugh. Is there a small city in New Zealand with a worse reputation than Masterton?

However, the commercial viability of the flight is not going to come from people escaping Masterton and VFR traffic back there. Marketed well with the right ground connections to Martinborough and Greytown and the lodges in the area, the service will probably survive or not on whether it can get high yielding tourist traffic.

Quokka

Nice of them to start flights exactly a month after the only reason to visit is over

http://www.wings.org.nz

Kiwi Flyer

Think of it as being 23 months early for the next one.