A proposed new domestic airline is looking to pick up the Nelson-Palmerston North route which Air New Zealand will ditch. Ewan Wilson, the founder of defunct budget airline Kiwi Air, has announced plans to launch a new domestic carrier in early 2016. Today he said Nelson would be in its plans, and it would like to fly the Nelson-Palmerston North route. Air NZ will end that service in April. Wilson said they were reluctant to be drawn on their route network, which they would finalise over the next couple of months, but Nelson would play a role. "Nelson for us will be an important component, not only from historical data from my own experience at Origin Pacific, but if you look at some of the Air New Zealand routes that look like they will disappear as a result of their recent decisions, it gives us an opportunity to fill that gap." He said they had no desire to compete head-to-head with Air NZ and would only look to take on the route after Air NZ had ended its service. Wilson worked for Origin Pacific Pacific on a six-month contract from November 2003. The Nelson-based airline collapsed in 2006. He would not name who was involved in the new airline's team nor be drawn on numbers, nor say where the investment was coming from. "We are talking in millions, but I'm not prepared to say the sum." Wilson would not say what type of aircraft would be used, saying it would be announced later, but it would be a twin engine and two pilot operation. The development team would start next month and would meet with economic development agencies throughout the country, local government and some of the corporates who might be in a position to use the service, to discuss the frequency and timing they would like to see, said Wilson. Asked whether the public could have confidence in the project considering his past history, Wilson said he had gained a lot more experience in 20 years. Regional airlines were reluctant to comment on the proposed new carrier. Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said they were working on new routes and he was not prepared to comment on something that was speculative. It has also been looking at flying some routes which Air New Zealand will end, and has bought a fifth 12-seat Cessna Grand Caravan to fly a new service between Blenheim and Paraparaumu, and complement its existing fleet on flights from Wellington to Nelson, Picton, Blenheim and Whanganui. Last month he said there was also potential for Sounds Air to pick up the Nelson-Palmerston North service and to fly a Nelson-Paraparaumu service. Crawford said today the aircraft had arrived from the United States and was being prepared for service. "There's no action on any new Nelson routes at this stage but it is a very moveable target at present and a lot of options are being worked on," he said. Air2there owner Richard Baldwin said he did not know enough to be able to comment.
This blog started off by focussing on NZ's smaller 3rd level airlines, past and present. It has evolved to trying to present some record of NZ's domestic airline operations and some of the larger charter operators, interesting NZ international airliner movements and photos I have taken around the country. Comments, corrections or contributions are welcome, Steve - westland831@gmail.com
Thanks for the post Steve.Sounds Air will I hope provide a viable airservice based on carefull planning and experience in the industry.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the bets on what two pilot twin engine plane ewan will use...?
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear/read a little snippet from the manager of air2there.. Will they hold on or be swallowed by sounds air...? Seems like all the main air2there routes now flown by sounds air... What is air2there's serious out look on the future...? What do you think Steve..?
Will probably use whatever is around. I would suspect J32 or something of that flavour, garrets are very good on the gas.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know what became of the old origin J41 s?
All exported. At least one went to Africa, possibly all of them.
DeleteJ31/32 are a dime a dozen and enough of them in the country doing zippo that could be dragged out of mothballs and put back into service. Robert Inglis always wanted to get back into the aviation scene but he won't be the one with "millions" to invest. It will be interesting to see what transpires but given a time frame of "2016" there will be other established operators already tapping into some routes that will not be viable for more than one service provider.
ReplyDeleteOf all the people I would never provide starting capital to or ever travel on a service they were involved with, Ewan Wilson would be at the top of the list. I think we all know and acknowledge Air New Zealand had Freedom engage in some rather heavy hitting tactics to get rid of Kiwi Air. That however does not absolve Ewan of the fact he committed and was convicted for fraud and yet has never admitted that "yes, I did it and I bloody well shouldn't have." Instead we've had nearly 20 years of excuses. Again let us not forget that not only was he found guilty, the Securities Commissioner at the time publically stated that Wilson had acted without moral regard and further banned him from senior positions in a company for the 5 years following. He is not the savior or regional New Zealand but little more than a snake oil salesman.
ReplyDeleteJust pulled out my signed copy of Dogfight, and yes looking back on it he does come across as "difficult" to understand...At the moment he's a Hamilton City Councillor, tried to stand for mayor but his past always catches up with him.
DeleteEach of those "abandoned" regions want a business schedule i.e. an early departure and a late return. So if you want to operate an expensive asset like a nineteen seat TP then you had better have something else to do with it. I doubt that KT would have the traffic to support more than one flight a day same as WS.
ReplyDeleteThe J31 is a dog in a commuter role as it lacks the performance when the temperature goes above standard. Origin used to offload big time out of RO in the summer.
J41 is a cool machine but the operating economics are a nightmare and would make the B1900 operation look like a LCC.
Any of the 19 seat TP options are going to cost a small fortune to retro fit avionics to meet the PBN requirements. A simple FAR23 machine will cost almost $50K but a FAR25 machine will be almost $1M if it can be certified.
At least there could be some jobs there for the soon to be unemployed Eagle pilots.
ReplyDeleteThey might even get a direct entry command....
ReplyDeleteBiggest issue is landing charges / airways charges. KA B200 or 1900D are same ldg fee category for many airports.
ReplyDeleteDoes answer lie in 10 seat t/prop with performance/economics; C90/425 or Mu-2!
All types have/are flying in NZ so not first type.
Mu-2!!! ;)