Sounds Air Flight 649 from Blenheim to Christchurch

 

Some weeks ago Sounds Air announced it was going to sell its Pilatus PC12 fleet and withdraw its Blenheim-Christchurch and Christchurch-Wānaka services. Sadly, even after Monday's news of a $30 million assistance package to regional airlines, Sounds Air says the Government support is too little, too late. It’s just cancelled several regional routes. “The planes have already been sold and redundancies have taken place,” said managing director Andrew Crawford. 

Before it was "too late" I wanted to try both services and on Monday the 1st of September 2025 I did the two sectors heading south from Blenheim to Wānaka 

Early morning at Blenheim's Woodbourne Airport... Air New Zealand's 6.00am to Auckland departed as I arrived... their 7.00am to Wellington cancelled. Sounds Air departed to Wellington on time

Marlborough Airport

Woodbourne Tower on watch

Do you want to buy an Orion or two?

The Marlborough vineyards

Snow on the western ranges

Looking out to Lake Grasmere and Cape Campbell

A light dusting of snow

On the left Tapuae-o-Uenuku, the highest peak on the Inland Kaikoura Range and the Pinnacle in the centre

Lake McRae

Flight Level 180

End of the view for a while

North of Motonau

Banks Peninsula in the distance

Motonau Beach and Island

Waikuku Beach and Ashley River Mouth

Pegasus and Woodend

Crossing the Waimakariri River on finals

My ride to Christchurch, Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLS