Stewart Island’s tiny airline is getting a slice of the Government’s $30 million Regional Infrastructure Fund, set up to help the country’s smaller operators.
South East Air, which owns the aircraft operated by Stewart Island Flights, will use the $640,000 loan to refurbish and return a plane to service, increasing the airline’s fleet from four to five aircraft.
Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson announced the funding, saying the extra aircraft would help the airline meet peak-season demand and keep scheduled services running when maintenance work takes longer than expected.
The airline’s CEO Leon Bax welcomed the news.
“The additional aircraft will give us better resilience across our schedule, particularly when other aircraft are undergoing planned maintenance.
“It will also provide us with additional capacity to respond to the strong demand we have seen post Covid."
The airline operates scheduled flights between Oban and Invercargill, along with charter and sightseeing services.
The refurbished plane is a Britten Norman Islander, which has been non-operational for some time. It will be the third aircraft of its type in the airline’s fleet. It also operates a Piper Cherokee Six and a Cessna 185.
Patterson added that the loan will help island residents access healthcare services and education, boost response times in an emergency, and help drive Stewart Island’s tourism, trade and general business activity.
It is one of several regional airlines receiving support through the fund.
Air Chathams received a $17.2 million loan, while Sounds Air got $4.5m, Golden Bay Air $1.1m and Island Air $252,000. It operates flights between Tauranga and Mōtītī Island.
In 2023, Stewart Island Flights was named the “most loved” airline in the country.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
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