The Government is extending financial support to the aviation sector through to March next year to protect our links with the rest of the world and keep trade flowing.
The Maintaining International Air Connectivity (MIAC) scheme was due to end on March 31 this year but has been extended to support a rebound in passenger volumes as the border opens.
It will see the Government spend an additional $250 million to support flights over the next 12 months.
The Ministry of Transport is working with airlines to confirm the routes and services that will be supported during the extension period and the exact schedule of services under the MIAC extension will be finalised over the coming weeks.
“Even now as we look forward to welcoming overseas visitors back to our shores, the number of passenger flights into New Zealand is only a quarter of pre-COVID levels, and many of those planes still carry few passengers,” transport minister Michael Wood says.
“As New Zealand reconnects with the world, we expect to see a significant increase in traveller numbers over the next year. By extending the MIAC scheme we can ensure our aviation sector is well-placed to support this rapid rebound in passenger volumes.
“This final extension of the scheme will provide much-needed certainty as passenger travel recovers, ensuring there are regular international flights for travellers and freight. It also means we can continue to grow our export base and get time-critical supplies such as medicines and special equipment into the country quickly.
“MIAC support levels will be scaled-back and ultimately end as international flight frequencies and passenger numbers return to normal. We’ve already been able to end MIAC support on flights to and from the Cook Islands because of quarantine-free travel, and the opening of borders with Australia means that will likely be the next market that will bounce back to pre-COVID levels,” Wood says.
Since May 2020, MIAC support has enabled more than 12,300 flights carrying over 235,000 tonnes of airfreight with a trade value of $18.8 billion.
During the same period, nearly 105,000 people have returned to New Zealand on MIAC supported flights, which amounts to approximately half of all those who’ve passed through MIQ facilities.
