FlyStark (Whitianga) has announced on its Facebook page that it will suspend all scheduled flights effective immediately, for the duration of the southern hemisphere's winter season.

The New Zealand charter and scenic flight specialist has said that winter conditions and a shortage of daylight hours have led to the decision.

"To provide a 100% scheduled service FlyStark believes it has to have the appropriate aircraft, while our existing aircraft are the latest available they do not have the capabilities to fly in adverse weather," the statement says.

FlyStark offered scheduled flights between Ardmore, NZ, Whitianga and Great Barrier Island, and also operates tours throughout Mercury Bay and the Coromandel in New Zealand's north island. According to New Zealand's civil aviation register, FlyStark operates one Cessna (single piston) 172S and two GA8 aircraft.

The carrier says it will review its fleet for the coming season and plans to recommence scheduled operations on September 1, 2017. Charter operations remain unaffected.