Originair (Nelson, NZ) will terminate scheduled flights between Wellington and Westport on May 1, 2026, citing sustained financial losses, local outlet Westport News reported. The decision will leave Westport without scheduled commercial flights unless the government agrees to support the airport financially by March 27.

Managing director Robert Inglis told the newspaper that the route used to cost shareholders around NZD500,000 New Zealand dollars (USD290,000) annually, a figure that has since doubled due to the fuel crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict.

Although the carrier has applied for financial relief through New Zealand's regional infrastructure fund (RIF), it has not made any progress, noting that government support "has not been positive".

The Buller district council, which operates Westport airport, continues to lobby for subsidies from the central government to retain the service, describing it as "of critical importance to our communities". The council also applied for the RIF but was denied.

"The decision to withdraw is deeply disappointing for council and the community, and we are acutely conscious of the impact this will have on our hard-working airport staff and their families," said Buller district mayor Chris Russell.

As previously reported by ch-aviation, Golden Bay Air received NZD1.1 million (USD645,000) under the RIF to refinance aircraft debts and to perform major maintenance checks. The regional airline was first to enjoy access to the package, which can provide up to NZD30 million (USD17.6 million) for at-risk airlines.

Originair assumed the Wellington-Westport route in January 2025 from Sounds Air, which had operated it since 2016. According to ch-aviation fleets data, Originair owns one BAe Jetstream 31 and three BAe Jetstream 32s.