Whakatāne District Council will consider a formal request for financial support from Air Chathams at its meeting on Thursday, 8 May 2025.
Air Chathams has asked Council to consider a proposal which includes:
- Writing off a previous $350,000 loan
- Relief from landing fees for 12 months (with an option to extend)
- Entering into a profit and loss sharing arrangement for the Auckland–Whakatāne route
- A new loan of up to $3.2 million to help secure a dedicated aircraft
Over the past 10 years, Council has provided various forms of support to help Air Chathams operate in the district — including a loan, promotional partnerships, operational fee relief, and staff assistance with business systems and marketing.
While discussions to date have been held in public excluded briefings and meetings due to commercial sensitivity, the Chief Executive has now agreed to bring this matter into the public arena (excluding specific financial information protected by non-disclosure agreements).
This follows Air Chathams’ proactive release of details about its proposal, removing the need for ongoing confidentiality.
The Mayor and Councillors will deliberate and decide on the proposal during its 8 May meeting.