Kerikeri goes all Q300

Yesterday was the last day of Eagle Air Beech 1900 flights into Kerikeri and from today all Air New Zealand flights will be operated by Air Nelson Bombardier Q300s.

Eagle Air commenced flying into Kerikeri on 1 November 1993 after Mount Cook Airline withdrew in favour of company stable-mate Eagle Air. The first flight was operated by Embraer Bandeirante ZK-MAS. Over the years Eagle have operated Bandeirante, Metroliner and Beech 1900 flights to the Bay of Islands. Subsequently Air Nelson started operating some services to Kerikeri alongside Eagle Air.

For the last Eagle Air flights into Kerikeri over the weekend ZK-EAB did the last overnight service flying in on 7 February as NZ2674 and flying out on 8 February as NZ2661. Then later in the day ZK-EAM flew the last two Auckland-Kerikeri return flights as NZ2654/NZ2689 and NZ2662/NZ2665.

Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEC as NZ8674 flew the first overnight service to Kerikeri on 8 February 2015. 

“The photo (taken at Kerikeri on 8 February 2015)  itself isn't amazing by any means but Saturday night was the last over-nighting Beech in Kerikeri, EAB had the honours - which is the oldest rego 1900 operating at the moment.   As of Sunday night it's now a Q300 overnight.” Photo Supplied

Air Nelson is offering four Q300 seat flights between Auckland and Kerikeri each weekday with three flights on both Saturdays and Sundays. Flights will leave Kerikeri for Auckland at 6.50am, 9.40am, 1.20pm and 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 6.50am, midday and 2.10pm on Saturdays and 6.50am, 10.10am and 4.30pm on Sundays. Flights will leave Auckland for the Bay of Islands at 8.35am, 12.15pm, 4.25pm and 6.45pm on weekdays, 10.55am, 1.05pm and 5.55pm on Saturdays and 8.50am, 3.25pm and 6.45pm on Sundays.