The national carrier phased them out, but larger twin-engine planes could be returning to the skies between Blenheim and Christchurch early next year. Sounds Air is looking at purchasing up to three 19-seater Beechcraft 1900Ds, something which has been described as a quantum leap for the Marlborough airline. Chief executive Andrew Crawford said the board met last Friday and authorised further research into the viability of larger planes on the route it first started flying last August. The idea was mooted in the middle of this year, with Crawford telling a public meeting on air services in Marlborough that the airline was doing everything it could to make the service useful. The Blenheim-Christchurch sector, which had seen a spike in demand since the November 14, 2016 earthquake knocked out State Highway 1, was currently serviced by nine-seater Pilatus PC-12s. Crawford said a decision would be made on the larger planes in December - if the board signed off on the addition to the fleet, the Beechcrafts would be in the sky early next year. "We need to get onto it as soon as possible, so we're actively pursuing a decision. We'd be moving into twin-engines, and two pilots so it would be a huge step for us," he said. Air New Zealand used to fly the Blenheim-Christchurch sector using the 19-seater Beechcrafts, but these were phased out and replaced with 50-seater Bombardier Q300s early last year. The national carrier, citing a lack of demand, dropped the route entirely last July, leaving the door open for Sounds Air to pick up the slack. Crawford said the decision to investigate larger planes on the route was made due to the level of demand and need for more capacity. The airline currently offered around 22 return flights a week between the two centres, priced at a flat rate of $199 one-way or $398 return. While he was unsure what impact introducing larger planes would have on pricing, Crawford said the Beechcrafts would give passengers more choice. SH1 between Blenheim and Christchurch was expected to re-open before Christmas, however Crawford said there would still be demand on the route. "There's a lot of people that still wouldn't drive that road, you can't go to Christchurch and back for a meeting even if the road is open and perfect," he said. The decision to investigate larger planes was also made with an eye to growth. This year the airline expected to carry around 120,000 passengers, a huge increase on the 90,000 Crawford said they carried last year.
Good news to hear will make sense I wonder what other routes they could fly the Beech 1900 on that have high demand. Perhaps Blenheim to Wellington. They could also use it for a new route Christchurch to Kapiti Coast or Wanaka. Also the PC12 free could open up a new route eg Christchurch to Westport.
ReplyDeletePPQ-CHC primed for business would be very popular.
DeleteTwo 1900Ds, one beginning it’s weekday in BHE, the other in PPQ would work very well operating in opposite directions via CHC.
This could be interesting.I do think though the timeframe for starting up might be a little optimistic if given the go ahead in December. I will be watching with great interest however!
ReplyDeleteI think they'll stay with flights coming in/out of Wellington mainly, and all the call for Wanaka flights won't happen. Maybe an upscaling for Taupo and Westport? Then use the PC12 to open up a new route, perhaps WLG/GMN?
ReplyDeleteI'd assume more business is done in Greymouth (or people coming out of Greymouth) and that would give them an advbantage over HKK. I wonder how many people want to go only to CHC, or on further up north when they fly out of HKK? GMN keeps them from competing directly with ANZ. if GMN can't handle the Beech, WLG/HKK?
On 4 July 2017 the Grey District Council announced (Greymouth Star) that it was establishing an events centre on the west side of the runway at Greymouth Airport. During the days that events were open to the public the airport would be closed to all traffic except for emergency medical flights. The first event will be West Coast Ag Fest in April 2018, open for 2 days.The District Council appears to be signalling that it is no longer interested in attracting recommencement of scheduled air services as the airport will not always be open to them.
DeleteThe Greymouth runway is not long enough for the Beech
I was more of the thought they could trial Greymouth with the PC12 as it’s a bit of an unknown route. The Beech would be better on proven routes, WLG to TUO/WSZ or BHE/CHC.
DeleteGreymouth is is not an unknown. Remember air west coast used to run a 19 seat dornier out of there to wellington, you may be surprised how many people on the hoki flight are from greymouth and going further afield than christchurch, Particularly wellington
DeleteThat’s my point exactly, people from Greymouth have to use Hokitika (Westport being too far to drive) to catch a connecting flight to Wellington. I think a Wellington flight from the biggest town on the coast would do better than Westport eventually. Especially now the mines are shutting down around Westport. I also think things have changed a bit since Air WestCoast, an$ Sounds Air are becoming a more proven and reliable alternative to Air NZ.
DeleteThe event area in
DeleteGreymouth is going to
Be used only for a 2 day event biannually. Greymouth aerodrome is large and the facility is big enough to
Accomodate both flights and the event.
Masterton to Auckland...? Be it PC12 or Beech... Just have to find a solution to the route not connecting up to its hub, Wellington, as it would be an aircraft "sitting around" in Auckland...Unless a PC12 could fill seats between Wel-Mas-Auc-Mas-Wel....Or it could carry on up to Kaitaia? If it's a beech, it could fill in a gap in Air NZs schedule service to Taupo and link back to Wellington
ReplyDeleteI’d have thought Masterton would be picked up by Air Chatham’s rather than Sounds. But maybe they’re dirty they missed out on it last time when Vincent won it?
DeleteAuckland - Taupo demand is pretty much spoken for. 150 seats each way on the busiest days.
DeleteSounds Air have offered a service from Masterton to Wellington before but this was turned down by the council. Can't see them doing a MRO - AKL service as does not fit in with the existing schedule.
DeleteSee that Air NZ doesn't leave for Taupo till 8 and the return flights not till 9... Potential for a Mas-Tau-Auck route getting business workers into Auckland before 9... Then the aircraft could do a Tau flight and link back into it's Wellington hub or it could fill in a Hamilton service.... Hamilton to Nelson etc
ReplyDeleteYou’d be leaving MRO about 0600 if you want to effectively beat the Link departure to TUO.
DeleteAre there any ex Air NZ Beech 1900's still in NZ?
ReplyDeleteDon't think so - pretty sure most were either sold to South Africa and Australian customers. Could be wrong though!
DeleteQuite a few stored in Australia
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ReplyDeletePlease use them on the BHE-NPE route. I for one miss the High Climb out rate they have
ReplyDeleteTwice the size of a PC12... I know Sounds Air will be doing its research before committing to a venture this big, but its a big step. SH 1 north of Kaikoura will reopen, and then what, will the increased demand still be there? Better to have a PC12 doing several trips at full capacity i would have thought. Although, tried to book tickets to Westport the other day and the flights were booked out! NSN and drive for me.
ReplyDeleteI can't see them starting any new routes yet... can see them being deployed on BHE-CHC/WLG, NSN-WLG, maybe some peak WLG-TUO/WSZ services.
ReplyDeleteI think they would have to be looking for routes for the 1900s rather than using them just for peak loads to Taupo or Westport on Mondays and Fridays for example. So Masterton-Auckland (and Christchurch maybe) and Paraparaumu-Christchurch to me seem good options without stepping on big brothers toes. Greymouth would be interesting but I guess it depends on the long term future for Hokitika which I hear is doing okay... If they were to pick up Hokitika the PC12 would be too small and the Beech won't fit into Greymouth. I think Greymouth or Hokitika would be seen as trying to move in on Air NZ more than the other routes.
ReplyDeleteKapiti - Christchurch is a guaranteed money spinner. Air Nelson was getting 20s in the middle of the day, imagine what a prime time offering could achieve.
DeleteAir NZ chose to focus on frequency from WLG to CHC instead. Offering more than 20 returns a day.
If MRO/AKL/MRO as a possible 1900 service, is there any passenger demand WLG/MRO to position the flight for MRO/AKL/MRO services?
DeleteHokitika appears to be doing OK compared with Air NZ Regional Load Factor. My passenger count on 33 flights HKK-CHC or CHC-HKK between 30 June 2016 and 15 August 2017 gives 79% average load factor.
DeleteKapiti Coasters hate driving to Wellington Airport where the parking charges are often more expensive than the flights.
ReplyDeleteI paid $59 WN to AKL then $63 to park for the weekend recently
The Kapiti to CHC flights averaged about 30 odd most of the time. 10.30 in the morning and back at 2.30 pm from CHC so not many business fare paying pax. All on Grab a seat !!
If Soundsair is thinking of buying 3 beech 1900's, they will go for initially for WLG/BHE/CHC/BHE/WLG and WLG/NSN/WLG. At the moment their WLG/NSN/WLG services are being used by a Caravan yet their competition are using twin engine aircraft.
ReplyDeleteCHC/PPQ/CHC option could be worthwhile route option, using a WLG/BHE/CHC/PPQ/CHC/BHE/WLG routing. Good utilization of aircraft and flight crew.
WLG-NSN and WLG-BHE with B1900s might be seen to be stepping too much on Air NZ's toes too much... Also Sounds Air have already signalled that the Air NZ/Jetstar competition between WLG and NSN has seriously impacted on their traffic
DeleteUnless that's what Airnz want...! Perhaps it's more certain that NZ are going to withdraw from further routes but not before an alternative is setup, softening the blow
DeleteIf so, Sounds Air will flourish
DeleteThe entire network is experiencing significant passenger growth. On ALL routes. There will be no further cuts. The consolidation that occurred several years ago now was necessary. It’s all growth from here.
DeleteDoubtful, there will be further cuts sooner or later. Yes growth on specific sectors but far from all sectors
DeleteTimaru and Taupo as examples have been singled out internally recently by Luxon as significant areas for passenger growth.
DeleteGisborne is booming. From the B1900 only a few years ago to 400 seats in either direction from the city on the busiest days
DeleteBelieve Air New Zealand intend phasing out Q300 and only using ATR on provincial routes, in which case we can expect some routes to drop off ( that currently support 50 seater but can fill 70 )
ReplyDeleteMurray
The Q300 is staying for the time being they would not be spending millions of dollars on painting up the last 8 for no reason!
ReplyDeleteMy friend couldn’t book a seat out of Timaru tomorrow. Work was paying. Sadly all 50 seats are full. This is often the case. Booking early on the peak days is essential.
ReplyDelete