The only bus service currently allowed into Wellington Airport is the commercially-run Airport Flyer service, but a proposed new law could change that.

The future of how Wellingtonians travel to the airport is up in the air as elected officials seek to introduce a law that would allow Metlink buses into the airport.

The move comes as the Snapper Card payment system gets set to be removed from the Airport Flyer service, and SkyBus reaffirms a "strong desire" to operate an airport service in the capital.

The NZ Bus-owned Airport Flyer service – a commerically-run service that operates independently of Metlink – currently has a monopoly on access to Wellington Airport. Infratil owns NZ Bus in addition to being the airport's majority owner.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF Wellington Airport says it has a limited operating area, and that means it needs to have contracts in place for bus services such as the Airport Flyer.

SkyBus – a commercial service that operates in Auckland, Melbourne and the Gold Coast – says it is in a "holding pattern" until Wellington Airport can find a way for forward for its service.

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﻿Chief executive Michael Sewards​ said high-level conversations with the airport had taken place but the agreement with the commercial Airport Flyer service had led to a stalemate.

SUPPLIED SkyBus, which operates airport buses in Auckland, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, has a “strong desire” to operate in the Wellington.

SkyBus would look to acquire the airport service if the opportunity came about, he said.

"We are open to having that conversation … now we sit back and wait ... it's very much our desire to provide the [Wellington] service."

Rongotai MP Paul Eagle said it was no secret NZ Bus, which recently lost the bulk of its Wellington public transport contracts, had been looking to sell its Wellington operation.

ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF Greater Wellington regional councillor Daran Ponter, left, asked Rongotai MP Paul Eagle, right, to bring a private member's bill to guarantee council-run bus services at airports.

Industry insiders had speculated that until the sale went ahead, it would hold on to its commercial Airport Flyer service to maximise the sale as a going concern, Eagle said.

In the meantime, Greater Wellington regional councillor Daran Ponter​ had asked him to draft a private members' bill to change the legislation related to airports and public transport.

A law change would compel airports across the country to grant access to council-run public transport buses, not just commercial services, Eagle said.

SUPPLIED SkyBus chief executive Michael Sewards said the company was open to having conversations about acquiring the Airport Flyer from NZ Bus.

Ponter said he was keen to see Metlink bus services integrated into the airport.

Not all airports across the country allow public bus accesss, meaning the new legislation would provide a national benefit, he said.

Ponter pointed out that one third of Wellington Airport was owned by the Wellington City Council, yet one private company had "privileged access", and he wanted to see that change.

"To be fair, we haven't pushed hard enough in the past. Maybe it's time to push harder."

Wellington Airport spokesman Greg Thomas said the airport would be happy to discuss the proposal with regional councillors and MPs.

The current agreement with the Airport Flyer ends in two years, at which point the airport bus service would be retendered, he said. Metlink and SkyBus could be considered during that time.

NZ Bus chief commercial officer Scott Thorne said the company was not interested in selling the Airport Flyer and confirmed it was considering scrapping Snapper Cards on that service.

Changes to the Wellington bus network, which take effect from Monday, required the Snapper Card equipment to be upgraded. Snapper chief executive Miki Szikszai told Stuff last week that NZ Bus had chosen not to upgrade its equipment.

In a statement, Thorne said NZ Bus would advise customers of any changes when the final decision was made in the coming weeks. But Snapper has already posted an announcement on its website saying its cards would be unavailable as payment from September 30.