Canterbury businesses are urging Air New Zealand not to ditch the last long haul direct flight into Christchurch.

The national airline is pulling out of its Tokyo to Christchurch direct service at the end of the year.

It will instead focus on the Auckland direct service.

Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commence CEO Peter Townsend says it's worrying on many levels.

"We will be imploring Air New Zealand to look at the bigger regional economic development picture and the importance of having good wide bodied aircraft services to support that. To us this is a trend that we don't like the look of at all."

Christchurch Airport chief commercial officer Justin Watson says ramifications will be felt everywhere.

"When a passenger or a visitor comes through the South Island or through Christchurch they deliver significantly more for the South Island economy than if they come through another entry point...we see it as about $20 million."