A new ATR 72 600 series regional aircraft is delivered to Air New Zealand at the ATR Factory in Toulouse, France.

Air New Zealand says its increased use of turboprop aircraft will offer customers "more choice" on main trunk routes.

But one passenger has criticised the planes as slower, noisier, and more cramped, and has questioned why they are paying the same for them as a jet aircraft service.

The New Zealand Airline Pilots' Association has also raised concerns about the lack of security on these flights, as security screening in New Zealand is currently restricted to planes with 90 seats or more.

BEVAN READ/FAIRFAX NZ An Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Christchurch businessman and frequent traveller Kevin Dore wrote in an opinion piece this month that nine out of 11 flights from Christchurch to Wellington on a typical day are now serviced by ATR or Q300 turboprop aircraft.

"There are no security checks on passengers boarding an ATR or Q300," he said. "Probably because hijackers and terrorists don't like flying in them either."

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In response, Air New Zealand spokeswoman Kelly Kilgour said the airline had announced some amendments to its domestic schedule earlier this year aimed at delivering "a more consistent and less complex schedule".

"The changes once fully implemented by the end of October, will see frequency and capacity growth on main trunk routes to offer business customers more choice while also improving connections to regional destinations," she said.

Air New Zealand services between Christchurch and Wellington are currently operated by a combination of 68-seat ATR and 50-seat Q300 aircraft.

Aircraft types were displayed when a customer selected their desired flight, Kilgour said.

"We have made some amendments to our schedule however for this route aimed at delivering improved connectivity, consistency and choice for customers and extending the business day for customers in both cities."

From October 30, Air New Zealand would offer an average of 20 daily return services on weekdays, the majority of which would be operated by ATR aircraft, with larger Airbus A320 jets at morning and evening peak times.

Kilgour said while turboprop aircraft were slower, the difference in flight time between the ATR and A320 was 17 per cent - approximately 10 minutes shorter in both directions.

"With any route, we look to match capacity to demand and while we can deploy A320 aircraft between Christchurch and Wellington, it's a trade-off between fewer flights carrying more people and more flight flexibility throughout the day using smaller aircraft," she said.

Air New Zealand also operates ATR aircraft between Wellington and Queenstown, and Wellington and Dunedin. From October, the airline will add five additional return jet services a week between Wellington and Dunedin.

Meanwhile Jetstar operates 50-seat Q300 turboprop aircraft on five routes in New Zealand, including to Nelson, New Plymouth, Napier and Palmerston North. A spokesman said the airline had no plans to expand its Q300 network beyond regional links.

New Zealand Airline Pilots' Association senior technical officer Dave Reynolds said the use of turboprop aircraft came down to economics.

"Jets are more expensive to run than turboprops. If they don't put turboprops on, there may be no service, if it's not viable," he said.

Reynolds said it was the association's view that "everybody and everything" going onboard an aircraft should be screened.

"At the moment, there's nothing stopping you taking a knife or anything else on a turboprop aircraft, and that is a concern to us. You only have one cabin crew member on these flights, so it is problematic.

"It does seem to be a bit arbitrary - 90 seats, or whether it's got a propeller stuck on the front of the engine.

"But that's what the Government, that's what the regulators have chosen to use."

The Civil Aviation Authority said it had no concerns with commercial operational decisions by airlines, provided all civil aviation rules were abided by.

However, there was an "inevitable operational impact on the Aviation Security Service when there is a reduction in the number of flights requiring security screening".

Asked if there were plans to introduce security screening to all passengers, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said the Domestic Aviation Security Review was ongoing.

"Airports constantly assess their security infrastructure and their needs," he said.

"Equally, the Government takes the safety and security needs of the travelling public very seriously.

"We're not aware of any imminent threats to domestic aviation in New Zealand. However, we continue to monitor the security situation, both here in New Zealand and abroad."

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