Whakatāne back on the Sunair Network

 

Sunair reintroduced Whakatāne to its network on the 3rd of February 2025 with their Piper Aztec ZK-MTY operating as SUNAIR 17Y calling at Whakatāne on a morning flight from Gisborne to Hamilton.

It appears Sunair no longer operates flights between Ardmore and Great Barrier Island.

A Tauranga airline, Sunair, has made its official debut here in the Eastern Bay Of Plenty. Sunair will be providing weekday flight services to Napier, Gisborne and Hamilton. The airline was officially welcomed in the bay yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony and local iwi Ngāti Awa and Hapū Taiwhakaea blessing the plane for flight. Kawerau and Whakatāne Mayor's Faylene Tunui and Victor Luca,  Whakatāne District Councilors as well as tourism staff were in attendance.  Sunair Owner, Dan Power said that he is looking forward to providing this service for Eastern Bay residents and sees a wide variety of potential in this new partnership. The current running plane has been referred to as small but mighty. The six seater aircraft provides the essential room needed for the quick flights with potential room to accommodate pets. Although the plane currently only covers three destinations, there is work on international connector flights that can allow people travelling from Whakatane to link up with Hamilton's Jetstar flights to Australia. Power has so far said this is in the works for July. The flights that connect to Jetstar are aiming to be offered at a discounted rate. Whakatāne Mayor, Victor Luca, is excited for not only the tourism aspect this could bring to the Eastern Bay, but the natural disaster safety opportunities. When making a speech at the ceremony Mayor Luca expressed how the potential to have supplies and support operating in the case of severe road closures is an exciting step for our coastal region.

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