Air New Zealand's loss is Sunair Aviation's gain, with the Tauranga-based company ready to step in and plug the immediate gaps left in Whakatane's regional services.

Tuesday marked the final Air New Zealand regional flights to Kaitaia, Whakatane and Westport after major cuts to their regional network were announced due to lack of demand late last year.

Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne with Sunair representatives Ryan Bergman and Dan and Bev Power. Photo: Supplied.

Whangarei to Wellington, Taupo to Wellington and Palmerston North to Nelson flights have also been scrapped.

The national carrier will also stop flying from Hamilton to Auckland from February 2016.

In the aftermath, Sunair Aviation chief executive Dan Power expressed interest in servicing Whakatane Airport with a 12-seater Cessna Caravan along with ten Piper Aztec planes.

So from Monday, the aviation company will introduce a range of new services linking Whakatane to other regional centres.

They will offer scheduled weekday services from Whakatane Airport to Hamilton, Gisborne and Napier – at $290 one way.

Flight times have been scheduled to suit business travellers, with departures for Gisborne and Napier at 9.30am, Monday to Friday. Afternoon return flights depart from Napier at 4pm and Gisborne at 5pm, arriving at Whakatane Airport at 5.30pm.

There will also be a Gisborne-Whakatane morning flight, departing at 7am and arriving in Whakatane at 7.30am.

Whakatane-Hamilton flights will also be available Monday to Friday, departing Whakatane Airport at 7.45am and 5.45pm. Return flights will depart from Hamilton at 8.45am and 6.45pm, arriving at Whakatane at 9.15am and 7.15pm respectively.

Sunair spokesman Ryan Bergman says the company is 'very excited” about the development of the new routes and providing business and private traveller links between the centres.

The company has been providing air services to and from the Bay of Plenty for more than 25 years, and Ryan believes there is both a demand and considerable potential to expand scheduled flights linking North Island regions.

'We're delighted to include Whakatane in our route structure and look forward building a solid relationship with the business and wider community in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,” says Ryan.

Services to and from Whakatane will be serviced by Sunair's fleet of 10 Piper Aztec aircraft, each of which can carry five passengers.

Air Chathams is also flying twice daily between Whakatane and Auckland with fares starting at $89 one way. The airline will use a 50-seat Convair 580 and an 18-seat Metroliner for the service.

Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne applauds the Sunair service initiative.

'There is a definite gap in the market for scheduled services between regional centres,” says Tony, 'and I think business people will welcome the chance to be able to carry out a full day's work in Gisborne, Napier and Hamilton without having to spend half of their time on the road.

'We wish them well and encourage the community to support these new services.”

Fares will be $290 one-way, including GST. Bookings can be made online, or by calling: 0800 SUNAIR.