SkyBus is suspending its Auckland Airport Express services indefinitely due to the impact of COVID-19.
The service, operated by bus network Kinetic, has been paused since August 20, 2021, and the North Harbour Express since March 2020.
A drop in passenger numbers of over 80% since March 2020 at the start of the global pandemic has resulted in the company operating at an “unsustainable level, with significant financial losses being incurred each month”, it says.
The company says it will “reassess the viability” of reintroducing both services over the longer term when all border restrictions for international passengers are removed.
Kinetic New Zealand head Calum Haslop says the decision was not taken lightly and follows extensive consultation with both employees and key stakeholders including Auckland Transport and Auckland Airport.
“We have 50 dedicated and passionate team members who have built this business into what it is today, and we have invested over $35 million in new vehicles and operations.
“Our business does not receive any of the normal subsidies that other urban bus services enjoy, and therefore its only source of income is from passenger fares.
“Up until last year, we operated two high-frequency routes that ran up to 24/7. In an attempt to ensure the business remained sustainable in the face of ongoing global travel restrictions we made multiple changes over the last 17-months, including route changes, reducing frequency of services and lower fares.
“Unfortunately, with Auckland in lockdown yet again and no end in sight for border restrictions, we simply can’t continue to operate the service,” Haslop says.
“We also don’t underestimate the impact our decision will have on both travellers and airport staff who rely heavily on SkyBus to get to Auckland Airport, day in and day out. We thank them for their loyalty and support, and sincerely hope that we can re-emerge when conditions change.”
All affected employees will receive full entitlements and support has been provided to assist them with the transition, the company says.
They will be offered positions in other parts of the Kinetic group of companies in New Zealand, including Go Bus and Johnston’s Coachlines. SkyBus Auckland Airport airside operations remain unaffected.
