Pacifica Air Profile

UPDATED May 2026

In early December 1986 Skeggs Food Limited, trading as Pacifica Air, applied to the Air Services Licensing Authority to conduct a Category "B" air transport service between Nelson and Wellington, and Nelson and Christchurch using a 12-seater Beechcraft Super King Air aircraft. The man behind the airline, Cliff Skeggs, was at that time the Mayor of Dunedin, and owner of not only of Skeggs Foods, which had a fishing base in Nelson, but also Pacifica Shipping which operated a roll on, roll off cargo ship between Christchurch's port of Lyttelton and Wellington. 

After the collapse of Air Albatross in 1985 Cliff Skegs could see there was potential to improve air services to Nelson. At this stage Nelson had a single daily Friendship flight to Christchurch in the middle of the day. Coast Air had expanded into Nelson and had operated twice daily on the route an 18-seat Twin Otter. Being slow and non-pressurised it had gained much support and Coast Air downsized to an 8-seat Piper Navajo, which though faster, was still unpressurised. With the announcement of the Pacifica service Coast Air’s chief executive, Phil Heaphy, announced that Coast Air would continue servicing Nelson until Pacifica got started before concentrating on its Greymouth-Christchurch services. On the Nelson-Wellington route Air New Zealand operated numerous Friendship services in competition with Air Nelson which operated Piper Navajos and Chieftains.

Cliff Skeggs told the Nelson Evening Mail, “We believe thee is a demand for a commuter service on these routes using a pressurised aircraft,” he said. The airline would be run through Skeggs' subsidiary. Pacifica Shipping, and initially would use a 12-seater twin-engined plane capable of flying Nelson-Christchurch in about 35 minutes and Nelson-Wellington in about 25 minutes, "about on a par with the Albatross Metroliners.” Mr Skeggs said a licence had been applied for and the airline’s start-up depended on when the licence was issued. It would not begin flying before February. “The emphasis is on making the headquarters in Nelson so that it’s really known as a local airline,” he said.

Air Nelson's managing director Robert Inglis disagreed with Cliff Skegg's assessment that the demand was there. He was reported as saying, "There is already a commuter airline running both routes and Air New Zealand is offering an excellent pressurised service". Air Nelson covers the routes proposed by Air Pacifica and Mr Inglis did not believe there was sufficient patronage to support another airline, "apart from something the size of ourselves." "There is really only room for a small commuter operator like us to service at times when Air New Zealand does not have a flight or as back-up at peak times." Mr Inglis said he was aware some travellers had some difficulty getting flights out of Nelson but later this month. Air Nelson was doubling its flights to eight crossings a day between Nelson and Wellington, and this would be increased to 10 crossings by February. "So there would already be sufficient flights without another airline." 

On the 4th of March 1987 the Press carried an article on third level airline operations in New Zealand. In it, Anita Gardner, Pacifica's commercial manager, was quoted as saying, Air New Zealand's services are not covering all the possibilities, and there has not been a good service to Nelson since Air Albatross closed down. Nelson will be the central pivot of the new service, and the pressurised twin-engine Beechcraft King Air used for the trip will be called the Spirit of Nelson. It will fly from Nelson to Christchurch and back twice a day, and from Nelson to Wellington and back twice a day. The plane will leave Nelson at 9.40 a.m. and arrive at Christchurch at 10.30 a.m., returning to Nelson half an hour later. The afternoon flight will leave Nelson at 3.30 p.m., and fly back from Christchurch at 4.40 p.m. "We're aiming at the business commuter," says Mrs Gardner. "If we get the support, we will look at a two-aircraft operation." The 11-seater Beechcraft is being leased from an Australian company.

In the same article Cliff Skeggs added, "One gets a little disheartened with the present on-off services," says Mr Skeggs, who has a pilot's licence himself, and used to own a helicopter company. "The public has lost faith, and we hope to restore a confidence that was very evident during the Air Albatross days. It was a well-patronised service." He hopes to avoid Air Albatross's financial problems by taking a cautious approach, trying it out with a leased aircraft to see how it goes. 

Pacifica's marketing manager, Len Anthony, feels that the success of Pacifica Air depends on the support given by Nelson business people. They will have three months to show how much they want the service. "There are plenty of scheduled Air New Zealand flights, but they are all in and out of Wellington. There's only one direct Christchurch-Nelson flight each way each day," he says. "Coast Air has been providing a service but it is withdrawing. They're only keeping open the Christchurch-Greymouth service." Like Pacifica Shipping, the new airline will be run by a very small team - what Len Anthony calls "hands-on-management." Although Anita Gardner has no airline experience, she points out that she had no shipping experience either when she became Pacifica's first permanent employee four years ago. "It benefited us," she adds. "Going in green, you are able to set up things without being bound by tradition. It's the personalised approach." 

The airline had first hoped to commence operations on the 23rd of March 1987. This was later delayed until the 27th of April, but in the event the aircraft arrival in New Zealand was further delayed as reported in the Nelson Evening Mail of the 28th of April. Take-off day for Pacifica Air has been stalled after bad luck dogged the Nelson-based commuter airline. Operations were due to start yesterday with scheduled flights between Nelson, Christchurch and Wellington. But a bug-strike brought the airline's Beechcraft Kingair back down to earth soon after it took off from America on the way to New Zealand. The insects got into the air-flow valves and affected the aeroplane's pressurisation system. Things got worse when the pilot ferrying the Beechcraft over split his head open. Luckily, he was not flying at the time. The 11-seater plane was a week late and arrived during Easter weekend when Department of Civil Aviation staff were on holiday. A few days later the process began of certifying the aircraft to ensure it was airworthy for New Zealand skies. The plane is also being painted and the seating arrangement is being changed from executive to commuter style. 

Being prepared for service in Christchurch, Pacifica Air's Beech King Air 200 ZK-CGS, taken at Christchurch on 29 April 1987. Photo : S Lowe

By this stage Coast Air had withdrawn from the Nelson-Christchurch route and one of their pilot's, Murray Clarkin, had been employed as Pacifica Air's chief pilot. Pacifica Air's proposed timetable had changed and it was envisage that two Nelson-Christchurch flights would depart at 7.30am and 4.40pm and return at 8.40am and 5.50pm while Wellington-bound flights would depart at 9.50am and 1.30pm, returning at 10.50am and 2.30pm. At $104 a ticket for the Nelson-Christchurch route and $80 for Nelson-Wellington, Pacifica was slightly cheaper than Air New Zealand and $7 more expensive that Air Nelson on the Nelson-Wellington route. 

On the 11th of May 1987 Pacifica Air started scheduled services with newly registered Beech King Air 200, ZK-CGS (c/n BB-301), named Spirit of Nelson. After the false starts the launch was very quiet with no mention of it in the Christchurch Press with the exception of an advertisement for the service that did not even name the airline!

A nod to the new air service that doesn't even name the airline. The Press, 11 May 1987

The second day of Pacifica Air's services, Beech King Air 200 at Nelson on 12 May 1987. Photo : I Coates

Despite the cost of set up Pacifica Air interestingly only planned to operate for a three month trial period. Initial responses were encouraging, particularly on the Nelson-Christchurch sector. The Nelson-Wellington flights, however, which were not so convenient timed for business traffic struggled to attract the same level of patronage.

Pacifica Air's first timetable, effective 27 April 1987 but not operated until 11 May 1987

By the beginning of July heavy demand on the Nelson-Christchurch flights had Pacifica Air considering the purchase of an 18-seater aircraft. Such a purchase would also enable two extra return flights at peak hours in the morning and evening between Nelson and Wellington. Pacifica would be making a decision on the new plane within the next couple of weeks. By the end of the month it was confirmed that a Swearingen Metroliner had been purchased in the United States.

With Arch Illingworth appointed as Pacifica Air's chief pilot and operations manager, Swearingen SA226TC Metroliner II, ZK-MES (c/n TC-231), named the Spirit of Nelson II, entered service on the 21st of September 1987. The additional aircraft meant that the airline could offer a more extensive timetable, including peak hour flights to Wellington. The arrival of the Metroliner enabled Pacifica Air to dramatically increase its schedule from its Nelson base with four flights each weekday to Christchurch and five to Wellington. The airline also offered a single flight to Christchurch on both Saturdays and Sundays.

Pacifica Air's Swearingen Metroliner II, ZK-MES at Christchurch on 9 September 1987. Photos : S Lowe

Pacifica Air timetable Number 2, effective 21 September 1987

Pacifica Air’s expansion did not go unchallenged. On the same day Pacifica’s Metroliner started operations Mount Cook Airlines commenced Hawker-Siddeley 748’s on the Christchurch-Nelson service in direct competition with Pacifica. Ahead of the arrival of Mount Cook's competition the Timaru Herald reported the Mount Cook Group chairman Mr Norman Geary saying of the new Nelson service that “there had been a developing need for a service with the right type of aircraft together with the right timings to serve an important area with positive regional growth." Nelson’s mayor, Peter Malone, however, wasn't convinced saying, "I wonder if it's free enterprise gone mad." Mr Malone said Pacifica was providing a good service between the two centres with a turbo-prop pressurised aircraft. To put 44-seater Hawker-Siddeley 748 aircraft on at the same time as Pacifica's connections did not make sense, unless the aim was to make Pacifica fail. There had been earlier instances of a large carrier taking on a third level carrier, forcing the smaller operator out, then pulling out its larger aircraft when it realised the service was not viable, said Mr Malone. "I only hope that if they push Pacifica out, they don't do what their partner (Air New Zealand) has done on previous occasions."  

With Mount Cook Airlines offering two Hawker Siddeley 748 flights between Nelson and Christchurch and Air New Zealand offering a Fokker F27 Friendship Pacifica Air faced an uphill battle and a major air war as reflected in their timetables below...

Nelson-Christchurch departures and arrivals as Air New Zealand ramp up the competition on the same day Pacifica Air introduced its Metroliner

Pacifica Air was up for the challenge and responded in its advertising with a little humour primarily aimed at its tourist airline competitor...

The Press, 11 September 1987

The Press, 16 September 1987

The air war competition with Mount Cook Airline was not the only turbulence Pacifica Air had to weather. In early December the Beech King Air was struck by lightning and was out of action for nearly two weeks while awaiting a the repair of a power control unit, the work being carried out in Australia.  While the Beech was out of service, the Metroliner had an inflight engine shut down. Unfortunately, the fault necessitated an engine replacement which had to come from the United States leaving the airline without an operational aircraft for some days. Fortuitously Pacific Air had acquired Piper Pa31-350 Navajo Chieftain, ZK-FOP (c/n 31-7405227) in early December and this and other chartered aircraft were used to move passengers and by the 6th of January 1988 both Pacifica Air’s turboprops were back in the air. 

Pacifica Air's timetable number 5, effective the 6th of January 1988 listed three flights each weekday between Nelson and Christchurch, two operated by the Metroliner and one by the King Air, with a Metroliner operating one flight each Saturday and Sunday. Between Nelson and Wellington there were four flights, two operated by the Metroliner and and two by the King Air with an additional flight on Friday evenings and on Sunday evenings operated by the Metroliner.

The 6th of January 1988 also saw Pacifica Air expand south starting a new triangular route from Christchurch to Alexandra and Wanaka. Two flights were offered each weekday, in the mornings and afternoons with a morning service on Saturdays and an afternoon service on Sundays. The southbound flights flew direct to Alexandra which had a NDB enabling an IFR approach. The aircraft then flew VFR through to Wanaka. The northbound service flew from Wanaka direct to Christchurch.   

Pacifica Air's timetable, effective 6 January 1988

The first flight was operated by the Metroliner ZK-MES but normally a nine-seat Piper Chieftain was used. The Christchurch Star of the 7th of January 1988 reported Sir Clifford Skeggs, the Dunedin businessman who likes flying, is looking forward to next January when he hopes he'll report with pride on one of his aviation ventures - the Edgewater Express. Sir Clifford's Pacifica Air yesterday started a twice daily Christchurch-Wanaka return service, via Alexandra. The service will transport guests booked at the Edgewater Resort hotel as well as other holidaymakers and visitors. Sir Clifford said the new air service would operate for three months and then be evaluated. Sir Clifford, 56, chairman of directors of Pacifica Shipping, has logged about 1000 hours in the air. He flew his own Cessna 182 from Wanaka to Alexandra yesterday to welcome passengers on a Pacifica Air Metroliner who were bound for Wanaka. The one-way Christchurch-Wanaka fare is $190, or $154 to Alexandra. Wanaka's airport has had more than $660,000 spent on extension work and other improvements in the last year. Sir Clifford appealed to the local council to be "more aggressive and progressive in aviation matters." The deputy mayor of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Mr Bill King, who is also chairman of the Wanaka airport committee, said at the Edgewater Resort that Wanaka's future prosperity depended on "getting some of the tourist dollar.” A former Christchurch businessman, Mr Maurice Duckmanton, who also serves on the airport committee, said he felt the new service would be well supported by Christchurch and Central Otago people.

The Metroliner ZK-MES on Pacifica Air's inaugural flight to Alexandra on 6 January 1988. Photo : The Press, 7 January 1988

A few days later an article in the Press added a little more detail on the Central Otago service... Although Pacifica’s service is a modest one, to be flown initially with a nine seat Piper Chieftain the airline has promised to increase capacity as passenger numbers build up. Quality Inn’s luxury new lake front resort at Wanaka will vigorously promote the link which appropriately has been named the Edgewater Express. The hotel’s general manager, Mr Paul Kirkpatrick, said the region had been crying out for a scheduled air service to Christchurch for some time. “The Edgewater Express will open up new market possibilities in the form of domestic holiday packages from both major North and South Island centres” he said. “The service will also boost the conference and incentive travel markets as well as many other market sectors where travelling by road is time and money lost.” Mr Kirkpatrick said he believed many Japanese would use the service because the hotel had been promoting Wanaka very extensively in its marketing programming in Japan.

The Metroliner ZK-MES on Pacifica Air's inaugural flight to Wanaka on 6 January 1988. Photo : The Press, 12 January 1988

A first day cover carried on the first Pacifica Air service to Wanaka

At about the same time the Central Otago air service started Pacifica Air formalised a connection with Ansett New Zealand which was an important move as the Central Otago service faced some new competition. Mount Cook Airlines were already operated a daily Queenstown-Alexandra-Dunedin service with Britten Norman Islanders but from the 8th of February 1988 Mount Cook Airlines arranged with Aspiring Air to provide four flights a day to tie in with its scheduled tourist route services through Queenstown to Christchurch and points further north as part of the wider Air New Zealand network.

Pacifica Air's Piper Chieftain ZK-FOP at Wanaka on 8 January 1988, the third day of services to Central Otago. Photo : M Beaven

Early in 1988 Pacifica Air leased a couple of aircraft. Cessna 402B, ZK-EHS Utililiner (c/n 402B-0217), was operated out of Nelson replacing the more expensive Beech King Air. This aircraft departed New Zealand on the 2nd of April 1988 on its delivery flight to the United States. The other aircraft leased about this time was Piper PA23-250 Aztec C ZK-DHB (c/n 27-3735) which was used as back up aircraft on the Central Otago service. 

Cessna 402B Utililiner ZK-EHS taken at Nelson in April 1988 with the Pacifica Air flag to the left of the aircraft. Photo : R Kerr Collection

Wearing Pacifica Air titles, Piper Pa23-250 Aztec ZK-DHB at Christchurch on 24 February 1988. Photo : S Lowe

On the 17th of February 1988 the Nelson Evening Mail reported that Mount Cook Airlines was to start operating between Nelson and Wellington offering four flights a day and adding a third Nelson-Christchurch flight to its timetable. Pacifica Air's general manager, Mr Rod Grout, was reported as saying, Mount Cook Airline and Air New Zealand are trying to run the competition out of town. "Pacifica Air seems akin to being the Pied Piper," he said. Until Pacifica began its Nelson-Christchurch run Nelson people had been given only a half-service, said Mr Grout. The same day it added its second aircraft, Mount Cook had begun flying the same route. . On January 7 Pacifica started up a Christchurch-Alexandra-Wanaka link, and about three weeks ago Mount Cook had begun a Wanaka service. Mr Grout said Air New Zealand and Mount Cook its subsidiary, intended to frustrate the third-level airlines and by doing so cut off Ansett New Zealand's feeder services. He said third-level airlines could still compete on price, but if the Airways Corporation's new schedule of charges came in Pacifica would be driven out of business because huge increases would force their ticket prices too high. "The Government deregulated the industry and the Airways Corporation with its proposed charges is acting as a Government puppet to regulate the industry by charges," he said. "We're getting regulation without regulation, and it's going to sound the death knell of a lot of small operators." 

Pacifica Air's Metroliner ZK-MES at Christchurch on 26 April 1988. Photo : S Lowe

Pacifica Air's timetable, effective 15 February 1988

After the sale of the Beech King Air, on the 5th of May 1988, a second Piper PA31-350 Navajo Chieftain, ZK-FQW (c/n 31-7952206), was added to the airline's fleet. This was mainly used on the Central Otago service.

Pacifica Air's Piper Chieftain ZK-FQW about to depart Alexandra on 1 December 1988

Under the pressure of competition and Airways' charges Pacifica Air announced to their staff on the 7th of June 1988 that it had made the decision to curtail its flights from Nelson to both Christchurch and Wellington and to sell the Metroliner ZK-MES. Eight Nelson-based pilots and three ground staff lost their jobs with Pacifica Air. Pacifica Air general manager Mr Rod Grout said in a statement it was with "sincere regret" the airline had to pull out of Nelson, attributing it to increased competition and changes in airways charging systems. Pacifica's decision to withdraw has ended weeks of speculation over the airline's future in Nelson and comes a week after cuts were made to flights between Nelson and Wellington. "We have seen changes take place in the year that we have been operating these routes," Mr Grout said. "Firstly the advent of Mount Cook Airline together with the service offered by its principal shareholder, Air New Zealand, on these routes has resulted in a vastly improved service to Nelson. Regular flights have catered for peak times and ready availability of low cost fares were benefits that Pacifica promised and delivered. We believe now that Mount Cook Airline and Air New Zealand have recognised the need to provide cheap, regular services to the Nelson community that they should continue to operate at the current levels. Should they fail to do so, Pacifica would have to evaluate the possibility of reintroducing its service." Changes to airways dues and airport user charges that come into effect on July 1 are also a factor in the airline's decision to cease operations. "The changes will have a major impact on our business," Mr Grout said. "The new revised Airways Corporation charges will result in an inequitable distribution of charges between major airlines and third level operators with the result that commuter airlines will have to increase their fares to the extent that they become uncompetitive." Mr Grout thanked the people of Nelson for their support during the past year, and said people with prepaid tickets would be refunded. 

The Edgewater Express service advertised in the Press, 23 January 1988

The Christchurch-Central Otago route continued to operate using the two Piper Pa31-350 Navajo Chieftains ZK-FOP and ZK-FQW and the Piper Aztec ZK-DHB with some timetable changes. The aircraft started the day at Wanaka departing at 7.45am and flying via Alexandra to arrive in Christchurch at 9.30am. On Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday a service left Christchurch at 11.00am flying direct to Alexandra and then on to Wanaka arriving there at 12.45pm. It then departed Wanaka at 1.15pm flying via Alexandra to arrive in Christchurch at 3.00pm. At 3.30pm a daily flight departed Christchurch for Alexandra and Wanaka, arriving there at 5.15pm to overnight. 

On the 17th of October 1988 the Chieftain ZK-FOP left the fleet and was registered to Airwork (NZ). 

Pacifica Air's Chieftain ZK-FOP at Christchurch on 28 February 1988

The Central Otago service on its own also proved to be unsustainable and on the 27th of February 1989 Pacifica Air quietly ceased scheduled operations ending its Christchurch-Alexandra-Wanaka service.

Pacifica Air's Piper Chieftain ZK-FQW at Christchurch on 25 February 1989, two days before the airline ceased operations. Photo : S Lowe

People Included

General Manager :

Rod Grout

Commercial Manager :

Anita Gardner

Marketing Manager :

Len Anthony

Pilots :

Bruce Abehart

Murray Clarkin

Stuart Holland 

Arch Illingworth

Alister McIver

Gary Rodgers  

David Tremberth