Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel is to meet the head of Air New Zealand over its decision to axe direct flights between Christchurch and Tokyo.
The airline says the decision was taken because of the extra cost involved in flying to Christchurch, as opposed to Auckland.
Ms Dalziel has been highly critical of the move and is meeting the airline's chief executive, Christopher Luxon, today.
She said Christchurch was the gateway to the South Island and the decision would be detrimental, not only to the city, but to the South Island as a whole.