A shortage of rescue and fire fighting services at Ohakea Airbase is jeopardising international flights.
Emirates which flies to Auckland and Christchurch, must designate an alternative airport in case of an emergency.
That airport is Ōhakea miltary base.
However, firefighting services there have been downgraded, due to a shortage of specialist firefighters and limited training options in New Zealand.
That means Ōhakea can't operated 24/7 as an alternative airfield for planes the size Emirates is using; A380s carrying up to 480 passengers.
So it's having to nominate other airports further away and Emirates says that's compromising the economic viability of the routes.
Cath O'Brien, the executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives speaks to Lisa Owen.
