22 August 2019

A 100,000 passenger airline



Provincial airline Sunair Aviation has recently celebrated carrying its 100,000th passenger and it happened on a flight from Gisborne to Hamilton. The milestone comes after 34 years in the aviation business for the company. “It’s a feat that is not easy to come by for a regional domestic airline,” said Sunair managing director Daniel Power. The company started with one aircraft and has now grown that into a fleet of 10 Piper Aztecs. “For 22 of those 34 years Sunair Aviation has called Gisborne one of its most popular destinations, and is one of the airline’s bases,” Mr Power said. It also operates a base in Whangarei, with its main base in Tauranga. “We’re very proud to reach an achievement like this as a privately-owned operator. “We’re fortunate to have a team of highly-trained pilots, engineers and administrators to continue the growth of the company. “We look forward to offering the same great airline service to our passengers for years to come,” Mr Power said. Sunair operates five days a week offering same-day return flights to both Tauranga and Hamilton from Gisborne. “The route is an essential and popular link for the numerous Gisborne enterprises that conduct business or connect in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. “It is also popular with leisure travellers and, by linking with Sunair’s other services, offers a gateway to the Coromandel, Great Barrier Island and the Far North.” Mr Power said by tapping into a niche in the market for air travel, Sunair had been able to offer direct flights to locations that larger airlines cannot. “This combined with a flexible flight schedule has meant we have maintained a safe service to the regional cities over more years than any other privately-owned operator.” Sunair has also obtained status as an approved, preferred air operator for “All of Government” personnel issued by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in Wellington. “After going through a tender process, 12 months of due diligence, a 50-page questionnaire and multiple trips to Wellington, we are very proud of that achievement.”


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