The country's air navigation service provider - Airways New Zealand - is proposing to remove services from seven regional airports around the country.

An aviation industry veteran, Sims joined WestJet in May 2017 after serving as CEO of Airways, an air navigation service provider in New Zealand.

Airways New Zealand which is the country's air navigation service provider, said the number of flights had gone from 6600 to just 982.

Airports, aircraft manufacturers and air navigation service providers will also find themselves under financial stress as demand evaporates.

Dublin will welcome air navigation service providers from around the world for the global air traffic management summit and agm this week.