Air Chatham's First International Destination

Air Chathams just doesn’t stop growing with the latest announcement of direct Auckland to Norfolk Island passenger services to begin on Friday the 6th of September 2019. Working with Norfolk Island Tourism and the Norfolk Island Regional Council for the last 12 months means this is an anticipated delight for both parties. Previously visitors to the island from New Zealand had to voyage via Australia to get to the island promoting itself as an abundant land of stories, activities and character. Promotion will begin in May targeting audiences likely to have an interest in travelling to Norfolk Island and also those currently on connecting routes with Air Chathams. Potential passengers are advised to look out for some special fares for the launch in September. Air Chathams has been flying to Norfolk Island on a regular basis over the last two years with a range of charter tour groups. The charters have been well patronised and for a week’s duration allowing visitors to appreciate the full experience Norfolk Island has to offer. The new route will be serviced by the comfortable and capable Convair 580 aircraft regularly used by Air Chathams for recent charter flights to Norfolk and their regular services to the Chatham Islands. The Convair is configured for 50 passengers with an estimated flight time of just over two hours. Air Chathams will fly to Norfolk weekly on a Friday departing Auckland at 9am and returning same day from Norfolk. Introductory fares are expected to start at $199NZD (exclusive of taxes) and will be available in limited amounts for scheduled flights. Tickets will go on sale mid to late April 2019. “There are so many parallels between Norfolk Island and the Chatham Island, except perhaps the weather. And we are really excited to re-establish that direct link to Auckland. We are getting so many queries about when flights will commence so I feel very confident that this will be another successful route for our family airline” says Duane Emeny, General Manager. “Air Chathams has made significant investments in anticipation of the success of the direct Auckland to Norfolk route, gaining required approvals from Australian Home Affairs, ANZA approvals from the NZ CAA and MOT licensing. A new website and online booking platform was launched last week to ensure customer service remains front and centre across all activity including the new Norfolk Island destination.”

Source : https://www.airchathams.co.nz/library/files/directflightstonorfolk.pdf

Congratulations to Air Chathams on going international! However, a 9.00am departure out of Auckland is not great for anyone wanting to go to Norfolk from elsewhere in NZ... looks like an overnight stay in Auckland!

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Air Chathams will start scheduled international services later this year to Norfolk Island with weekly flights from Auckland. The fast-growing airline will plug a gap left by Norfolk Island Airlines, which quit the route just over a year ago and before that, Air New Zealand. Air Chathams has been flying to Norfolk Island with a range of charter tour groups which it says have been well patronised and encouraged it to start the scheduled service. The new route will be flown by Convair 580 aircraft regularly used by Air Chathams for the recent charter flights to Norfolk and regular services to the Chatham Islands. Introductory fares are expected to start at $199 (excluding tax) and tickets will go on sale mid to late this month for the flights expected to start on September 6. Air Chathams would fly up every Friday, returning the same day, meaning passengers would typically spend a week on Norfolk Island. The Convair is configured for 50 passengers with an estimated flight time of just over two hours. Air New Zealand used to fly the route but it pulled out in 2017, citing difficulty making the service pay. Air Chathams general manager Duane Emeny said his airline was getting many queries about when flights would commence and was ''very confident'' that this would be another successful route for the family-owned airline. It has filled in on regional routes that Air NZ used to fly - including abruptly dumped Kapiti flights - and is expanding and modernising its fleet. The sturdy Convair planes date back to the 1950s. "There are so many parallels between Norfolk Island and the Chatham Islands, except perhaps the weather. And we are really excited to re-establish that direct link to Auckland,'' said Emeny. The island is 8km by 5km and located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The Australian-administered territory used to be a penal colony. Air Chathams had made ''significant investments'' in anticipation of the success of the direct Auckland to Norfolk route, gaining required approvals from Australian Home Affairs, approvals from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Transport. A new website and online booking platform was launched last week. As part of its expansion the airline has reportedly leased an ex-Air New Zealand ATR turbo prop and is eyeing new aircraft, including narrow body jets.

Source : https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12220339