Contrary to his claims flying is in fact fuel efficient when compared with auto's. Air travel also saves time, and is the only realistic means for long distance or overseas travel. A flight to Auckland using turbo prop Q300/ATR 72 type planes uses about one litre of fuel/15Km/passenger (70% full), or about 20 litres for each passenger over the 300Km journey.
In comparison a car gives about 10 Km/Litre (or 12 Km/Litre/passenger when adjusted for the average 1.2 passengers carried). Since the distance by road is 450 Km, half as far again as by air, each passenger accounts for almost 40 litres of fuel, nearly twice that of flying.
Now for longer journeys using B737/A320 type aircraft direct travel to Australia will carry each passenger nearly 25 Km per litre (80% full) and will also eliminate the 20 litres now wasted by each passenger flying via Auckland.
Mr Standfields views on flying are just Green party rhetoric and is typical of their double standards. Retiring Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos accepted a tax payer funded business class freebie world trip as a parting perk and party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons is a regular flyer. How else could she get to the voters?
Both the Green Party and Clark/Cullen Labour Government obstructed the runway development for over 5 years. We now have a more enlightened Government.
However the delay has allowed the airport to amass nearly $5 million towards the project and the cost has likely come down in the current financial environment. Prime Minister Key's proposed domestic treatment for trans-Tasman flights, and a possible security upgrade at Hawkes Bay Airport are significant developments, eliminating two of the reasons historically used as a crutch by the 3% of people APR consultants discovered were opposed to the extension when surveying the attitudes of residents for the local councils.
Mr Standfords seems unaware both BERL and APR calculated multi million dollar returns to Hawkes Bay each year and discovered Hawkes Bay attracts only half the number of overseas visitors that might be expected. Hardly surprising considering the extra costs, transfer delays, and unappealing small connecting aircraft. Already some 75 000 passengers a year travel between Hawkes Bay and Australia.
Now if we lived in Europe or Japan where high speed trains offer city to city travel times that are competitive with flying he might have an argument, but we don't. Here the automobile is the most likely alternative.
Before we worry about flights to Australia however we need domestic competition to reduce fares and increase seat numbers. This requires a runway extension to allow services by jet only domestic airlines such as Pacific Blue and JetStar.
Perhaps Mr Stansfield should stick to water where presumably he has some expertise.
Bold moves should be made now to ensure we are competitive when better times return.
Bold moves should be made now to ensure we are competitive when better times return.
