2018 has been been an interesting year on the domestic airline front.
You can read what I thought my crystal ball gazing was at the beginning of the year here...
https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2018/01/crystal-ball-gazing-for-2018.html
I didn't predict a lot of change with the exception perhaps of Air New Zealand looking hard at ports like Hokitika and Timaru and the Hamilton-Palmerston North-Wellington service. But 12 months on all these routes are still in the Air NewZealand stable.
What I didn't see was Air New Zealand pulling out of Kāpiti Coast - and I suspect Air New Zealand didn't see that at the beginning of the year either, and I am sure they did not expect the political backlash!
I thought Jetstar might have expanded into Tauranga. That didn't happen.
And I didn't see a lot else happening. But things did happen. The year has seen new aircraft, new routes, with a couple of airlines closing and a couple of small operators starting up!
Here are the highlights of what happened this yea...
28 January 2018
Barrier Air's second Cessna Grand Caravan, ZK-SDC entered service.
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| ZK-SDC at Auckland on 25 June 2018 |
19 February 2018
Sounds Air added an extra four flights per week between Wellington and Blenheim.
3 April 2018
Air New Zealand cut the Kāpiti Coast from its network
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| Bombardier Q300 ZK-NEC operating the final Air New Zealand service from Paraparaumu on 3 April 2018 |
4 April 2018
Air New Zealand increased capacity into and out of Tauranga by adding a new weekday Wellington return flight and operating larger ATR aircraft on early morning flights to Auckland.
One additional flight each week was added between Rotorua and Wellington allowing a Rotorua overnight service to be reinstated.
4 April 2018
Sunair cleared to fly again after a CAA's 203 day grounding. Scheduled services were offered from 28 May with flights offered from Hamilton or Tauranga to Great Barrier Island or Whangarei, and from Great Barrier Island to Whitianga or Whangarei.
7 April 2018
Air Chathams second Saab, Saab 340B ZK-CIZ entered service
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| Saab 340 ZK-CIZ at Auckland on 6 August 2018 |
May 2018
FlightHauraki, which had been sold to Air Auckland in 2017, began operating under the AIr Auckland name
4 June 2018
Air2there operated its last scheduled services using Originair's Jetstream ZK-ECI.
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| Originair's BAe Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH at Paraparaumu on 3 January 2018 operating an air2there service |
10 August 2018
FlyStark was still offering scheduled services early in 2018 but on 10 August 2018 their last aircraft was sold.
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| FlyStark's Gippsland Airvan ZK-FSR, seen here at Ardmore on 3 November 2016 was registered to a new owner on 10 August 2018 |
13 August 2018
Air New Zealand added an additional 12 one-way business timed services per week between Palmerston North and Auckland operating southbound Sunday to Friday and northbound Monday to Saturday.
20 August 2018
Air Chathams launched its Kāpiti Coast-Auckland air service The inaugural service was operated by Air Chathams Saab 340B ZK-CIZ under the command of Captains Craig and Duane Emeny.
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| Air Chatham's first service from Paraparaumu to Auckland departs on 20 August 2018 |
10 September 2018
Barrier Air relaunched flights between North Shore Airport and Great Barrier Island. Flights operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
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| Barrier Air's Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-SDC at North Shore on 17 December 2018 |
28 September 2018
Originair introduced Friday and Sunday flights between Napier and New Plymouth with connections to and from Nelson. The first flight was operated by Air Chathams' Metro 23 ZK-POF
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The inaugural New Plymouth-Napier service at New Plymouth today on 28 September 2018
Photo : Taranaki - Like No Other Facebook Page
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16 October 2018
Barrier Air's third Cessna Grand Caravan, ZK-SDD entered service also unveiling the airline's new colour scheme. The company also added 12 additional flights per week between Auckland and Great Barrier Island.
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| Two of Barrier Air's Cessna Grand Caravans, ZK-SDC and the new ZK-SDD at Auckland on 17 December 2018 |
27 October 2018
Air2there placed in receivership
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| Happier days for air2there, Piper Navajo ZK-WHW, Reims-Cessna 406 Caravan ZK-XLF, Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-MYH and Piper Chieftain ZK-MYS at Paraparaumu on 9 April 2012 |
28 October 2018
Air New Zealand introduced an additional Bombardier Q300 between Auckland and Napier six days per week.
29 October 2018
Fly My Sky commenced twice daily weekday flights between Auckland and Whangarei
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| Fly My Sky's BN Islander ZK-SFK waiting at Auckland for its Whangarei passengers on 17 December 2018 |
29 October 2018
Air New Zealand started operating five additional return A320 services per week between Dunedin and Auckland.
2 November 2018
Air Napier changed hands on the 2nd of November 2018 with Gary Peacock selling the Napier-based airline to Shah Aslam.
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| Air Napier's flagship, Piper Navajo ZK-NPR at Taupo on 25 January 2018 |
3 December 2018
Air Auckland commenced scheduled services between Ardmore and Whitianga and Ardmore and Great Barrier Island.
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| Air Auckland's Cessna 172 ZK-MDV at Pauanui on 9 October 2018 |
14 December 2018
Waiheke Wings commences operation from Waiheke Island with two Cessna 172s. Waiheke Wings is the sole operator of services to and from Waiheke.
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| Waiheke Wings' Cessna 172 ZK-CBZ at Pauanui on 28 December 2018 |
Sounds Air begin operated jet charter operations using Cessna 525 Citation CJ3 ZK-RJZ.
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| Cessna525 Citation ZK-RJZ landing at Wellington on 16 September 2018 |
A Gippsaero GA8 Airvan, VH-BNG, arrived in New Zealand for Golden Bay Air.
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| Set to become ZK-ZUG with Golden Bay Air, Gippsaero Airvan VH-BNG at Nelson on 28 December 2018 |
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