Nelson and Blenheim residents will take to the sky as a main highway gets fixed

Local company Originair has set up a morning and evening return air service - for people affected by the seven-week closure of State Highway 6 next month.

Massive rainfall in August severely damaged the road between Hira and the Rai Valley.

The only alternative route through the Wairau Valley extends the trip by an hour - whereas the flight will take 20 minutes.

The flights will operate for two weeks from November 1 - and be extended for the full seven weeks if there's sufficient demand.