Call for changes to 'embarrassing' Airport Flyer bus service
Tuesday, 6 August 2019
There are calls for Wellington's 'embarrassing' airport bus service to be overhauled, but operator NZ Bus says it's not going anywhere.
Adult fares on the privately-run Airport Flyer service - the only bus which operates in and out of Wellington Airport - were recently hiked up to 33 per cent, and the discount Snapper system removed.
That means the buses are no longer linked to electronic display boards, so visitors have no way of knowing when a bus is due.
Greater Wellington regional councillor Daran Ponter said the number of services had also reduced over the past year, leading to passenger numbers dropping 'through the floor'.
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He has called on the airport to consider dropping toll charges and creating priority access for public transport vehicles to encourage more people to use them.
He also wants the regional council to meet with airport and NZ Bus staff to consider whether the service is still financially viable.
If not, the council and airport should consider running a Metlink service instead, he said.
'I expect them to be willing to have a conversation about it. At the moment, the service has become embarrassing.'
Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, who campaigned against a proposal by NZ Bus last year to stop running the service to Lower Hutt, said he was pleased the council had finally accepted it may need to step in if the flyer service fell over.
'That hasn't always been the case.' The flyer service was currently in a 'limbo period', Bishop said.
'We've currently got a flyer service which is degrading, and anecdotally declining in popularity, but it's still there.'
But NZ Bus chief executive Zane Fulljames denied the service was struggling, saying passenger numbers had remained stable over the past year.
However, he would not release patronage data to Stuff because of commercial sensitivity.
He acknowledged some services had been cancelled in recent months because of a nationwide driver shortage, but expected that to be resolved in the near future.
While the company intended to continue running the service long-term, he welcomed a meeting with the regional council.
'We'd be happy to engage with the regional council on any areas where a service can be improved.'
Wellington Airport spokesman Greg Thomas said the Airport Flyer service had declined because of driver shortages and the loss of the Snapper system.
“We have reminded NZ Bus of our expectations, their obligation to deliver a quality service, and asked them to urgently consider how they can re-establish their service levels and operate on a reliable timetable.
'Currently, the service is not always operating every 10 minutes in peak times and every 20 minutes in non-peak times as it should.'
Now was not the time for politics, but for constructive discussions between all parties, Thomas said.
Ponter said the priority for the Metlink service would be between the airport and Wellington Railway Station, with a possible extension to the Hutt Valley.
It would initially cross three fare zones (currently a $5 adult cash fare), or four (a $5.50 cash fare) if an airport toll was applied.
The Airport Flyer adult fare between the railway station and airport is $12.
A regional council spokesman said under the Government's public transport operating model (PTOM), Metlink cannot run a subsidised service in competition with an existing commercial service.
A $2.2 billion mass transit system has been proposed between the railway station and airport, but would not be completed until after 2029.
Ponter's motion will be tabled at Wednesday's sustainable transport committee meeting.
AIRPORT OPTIONS
Metlink No.2 bus Lambton Quay to Broadway at Hobart St, 10-minute walk to airport: $3.74 peak Snapper fare, $2.81 off-peak
Airport Flyer: Railway station-airport $12 (was $9), Lower Hutt-airport $18 (was $12)
Taxi: Airport-CBD $30-40
Airport parking: $34 per day uncovered, $42 covered, $49 premium