Someone has posted a comment that North Shore Air has or is about to end their services from North Shore to Tauranga and Kerikeri. I noted on Monday there was no signage for them at North Shore airport and today that their website and Facebook page have been closed down. The airline began operating scheduled services on the 28th of September 2015 (see http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/09/wet-start-for-north-shore-air.html and http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/09/north-shore-air-aucklands-north-shore.html).
Sorry to hear that. All the best to Peter and team and good on you for giving it a go
ReplyDeleteWord about is they ran short of funds. Shame as the service I'm told was efficient and well operated by the two pilots. It was always going to be a hard nut to crack but a good idea all the same. Here's hoping they find jobs elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. I was really hoping it might have been a good little niche. All the best to the pilots!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear this but, surely this come as no surprise to anyone, particularly you the author Steve L. There was no way this service was going to last. Though the idea is credible, there just isn't the demand,- yet. The high cost of operating an old piston twin that can only take a small number of passengers surely is good giveaway long before the wheels first left the ground... And of course still competing, even though indirectly, with a much better product from Air NZ. But the biggest problem IMHO is the extremely high ticket prices !! SURELY one would realise that people aren't going to pay $240 (or what ever it was) for a 2-3 hour trip by car... You can give me every excuse in the book, as legitimate as they may be (e.g the high cost of operating) but no explanations or excuses are ever going to convince the customer to spend a fortune to get to Auckland when there are other options.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately in 2015 with the public expectation on ticket cost, on new domestic NZ routes if you can't break-even with operational costs with only a half-full aeroplane with tickets sold at double digit prices - you are wasting your time !
Delete