Public need City to Airport bus service in New Plymouth - advocate

A young New Plymouth political advocate is making some noise in Taranaki to get the Taranaki Regional Council to begin a direct City to Airport, Airport to City Citylink bus service. 

Michael Riley, 18 says with an airport that is growing by the day an low cost bus service is required to keep up with demand and to stimulate the market to coincide with low cost carrier Jetstar flights. 

"Jetstar has created a new market by providing cheap flights. Why would first time fliers pay more than $60 for a taxi or shuttle to or from New Plymouth Airport, when their flight was less than half that?", Riley questioned. 

Riley says the Regional Council could add the airport into it's Bell Block or Waitara bus service as these can all be transferred onto other city bus services and also South Taranaki connectors to Stratford and Hawera.

"This would connect the entire region to the airport, by bus. It would mean a tiny bit of start up investment for more baggage room on the buses used, but would provide an popular service." 

New Plymouth Airport yearly passenger numbers are hitting over 350,000 this year and that's expected to rise significantly over coming years, meaning more and more customers will be able to use an airport bus service. 

Mr Riley begun a Facebook page as part of the campaign called Citylink bus to New Plymouth Airport, which has over 50 likes in it's first three hours of being created. 

The Facebook page is giving away $25 Jetstar travel vouchers, and free taxi vouchers from Energy City Cabs as part of the transport campaign.