There's no surprise regional flights are some of the first on the chopping block for Air New Zealand.

The airline says rising jet fuel prices are making it cut about four percent of flights, including many for Tauranga and Nelson.

Affected customers will be told this week - and most put on same-day alternative flights.

It axed more than a thousand flights in March.

Airports Association chief executive, Billie Moore, says it's not just about reducing fuel costs.

"One return flight to New York, for instance, would use the same amount of fuel as 170 return flights to New Plymouth. So this is about broad commercial optimisation."  

LISTEN ABOVE