Air Chathams newest Saab begins its journey to New Zealand

 

Qantas may have completed a 24-hour test flight this week from Australia to France using a brand new Airbus A350-1000ULR, but a much smaller airline closer to home is quietly pulling off its own long-haul feat.

Air Chathams is set to welcome a new member to its fleet – a Saab 340 – and it’s taking a more measured route to New Zealand.

Taking off from Saskatoon, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, on Tuesday (local time), the twin-engine turboprop flew first to Oakland, California, before crossing the Pacific to Hawaii.

Later on Thursday, it will fly to Apia in Samoa before arriving in Auckland on Friday afternoon. All up, it will cover more than 13,000km – a lot of air miles for the two pilots on board.

Jayden Beck, Head of Flight Operations at Air Chathams, says the airline contracted Australian aircraft delivery specialist BJM Ferry to bring the aircraft to New Zealand.

"We pay them. They take full responsibility for everything they do, including organising the fuel."

Air Chathams chose the general route across the Pacific, Beck says, but BJM Ferry determines the individual stops, and there was one late change.

"They originally planned to go to Salt Lake City, and then on the day the crew said, 'Oh no, we're going to plan for Oakland instead.' Ferry flights are very fluid."

The aircraft has been modified for the journey with two large bladder fuel tanks installed – one in the cargo compartment and another at the front of the cabin after several seats were removed.

Because the pilots are licensed in Australia, the aircraft has been temporarily registered there as VH-221. Once it arrives in Auckland, it will be deregistered in Australia and reregistered in New Zealand as ZK-CIR.

While the longest sector is Thursday night's flight from Hawaii to Samoa – about 2300 nautical miles (4259km) – Beck says it is actually the Oakland-to-Hawaii leg that presents the greatest risk due to a lack of airports to divert to.

"That is nine hours flying, and if you are halfway, there's nowhere to land. It's go back or continue."

Thankfully, the pilots have encountered no problems.

The aircraft is more than 36 years old and has flown for several airlines in Canada and the United States, but Beck believes this is the longest journey it has ever undertaken.

Once it reaches Auckland, the work is far from over.

The aircraft will spend up to three months in the hangar.

"Basically, it is being fully torn apart and put back together to ensure it meets the standards that we require. The Civil Aviation Authority will come in and certify it, and then it'll be ready to push out the door and start flying our passengers."

The Saab will operate services to the Chatham Islands, including flights to and from Wellington and Christchurch. Beck describes the aircraft as "kind of special".

"It's a 25-seater and that's why we've actually purchased it. All of our other Saabs are 34-seaters.

"They've moved the rear bulkhead forward and increased the freight space.

"That's why it'll be deployed on the Chathams run, because it'll give us both the passenger capacity and all that extra cargo space."

The new arrival will join five other Saab 340s.

"It's the most Saabs we've had, and all of these aircraft will be active."

The airline currently operates two ATR aircraft, although one is being sold, as it faces the economic headwinds affecting all carriers in New Zealand.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Associate Transport Minister James Meager earlier this year announced loans for airlines hit hard by the fuel crisis.

They have included a $17.2m loan to Air Chathams, $4.5m for Sounds Air, $1.1m for Golden Bay Air and $252,000 for Island Air, who fly from Tauranga to Mōtītī Island.

Source: Stuff.co.nz

- on a sidenote, I flew from Christchurch to the Chathams on Tuesday, and the flight had just shy of 60 passengers. A lot of people travel especially on the CHC service to access health services. May need more flights a week than the current schedule offers, as 25 seats may not be enough! - LF

New Zealand's First Tecnam P2012 Traveller Arrives

Arriving into Auckland this morning, the 29th of July 2026, was Glenorchy Air/Queenstown Air Charter's first Tecnam P2012 Traveller. Still carrying its  Republic of San Marino ferry registration, T7-NZL, the Traveller, after completing customs and immigration requirements, positioned to Ardmore where I captured its arrival.

And a little background from the April media release...

Glenorchy Air is pleased to announce that its parent company, Stokes Aviation, has placed an order for a brand-new 11-seat, twin-engined Tecnam P2012 Traveller, scheduled for delivery in the middle of the year. This aircraft will be the first of its type to operate in New Zealand. CEO James Stokes and Safety Systems Manager Michael Rutherford will travel to Italy ahead of the aircraft’s completion date to train and qualify on the type. The aircraft, which will be built in Capua, Italy, will be powered by two 375 hp Continental Aerospace GTSIO-520S engines. and will be capable of operating to all of Glenorchy Air’s destinations, including Milford Sound, Mt Cook, and Stewart Island. 

Glenorchy Air CEO James Stokes said: “We are extremely excited to debut the Tecnam P2012 Traveller in New Zealand and use it to expand our capacity and capability into 2026 and beyond. Our management pilots and I viewed the aircraft at Oshkosh 2025 in the United States, and we were very impressed with its passenger comfort, cockpit ergonomics, and Italian styling.”

The purchase of the P2012 coincides with the launch of Queenstown Air Charter by Glenorchy Air - a dedicated premium charter arm of the business. Supporting this expansion, Glenorchy Air is applying to the CAA for Part 135 IFR approval, which will enable the P2012 to operate IFR charter services across New Zealand, with a focus on the South Island and lower North Island. IFR bookings are expected to open from October this year.

The P2012 is the world’s most advanced commercial twin piston aircraft, originally designed in Italy for US regional airline Cape Air By Tecnam, the world's third largest general aviation aircraft manufacturer. It is equipped with Garmin G1000 NXI avionics and specially designed for ease of operation for a single pilot. It was designed by legendary Italian aircraft designer Professor Luigi Pascale and is currently in operation in several countries around the world. Stokes Aviation has selected the Continental engines for this aircraft thanks to the superior take off and landing performance and the lower noise signature from the larger and slower turning propellers.

Final Flyers from Fiordland and Queenstown

Airbus Helicopters EC 130 ZK-IBG at Milford Sound on 10 July 2026

Cessna 208 Grand Caravan ZK-NZO operating from Jardine's airstrip near Queenstown on 10 July 2026

 

Boeing 737 MAX 8 VH-8IK departing Queenstown on 10 July 2026

Fiordland Flyers... Air Milford

Flying between Queenstown and Milford Sound, I captured some of Air Milford's all Cessna fleet on 10 July 2026

Cessna 206 ZK-DWV at Queenstown

My ride to Milford Sound, Cessna 208 Caravan ZK-SKB

Also at Milford Sound was sister Cessna 208 Caravan ZK-SKM

 

New Saab for Air Chathams?

 

A big thanks to Greg who sent me through details from the Australian Aircraft Register. 

A Saab 340B, with the serial number -165 was registered to Air Chathams yesterday (24/07/2026). It is currently on the Register as VH-22I. 

It was deleted from the Canadian Register on 23/07/2026 as exported to NZ. It was registered in Canada as C-GTJX and flew for Rise Air, and airline based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Watch this space!

Fiordland Flyers - True South

 

Flying between Queenstown and Milford Sound or Mount Cook, I was delighted to capture two of Cessna 208B Grand Caravans and a GA8 Airvan at Milford Sound on 10 July 2026... 

True South has leased Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDB from Barrier Air for the winter

A few shots of True South's own Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, ZK-SLB

Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-SLQ

Fiordland Flyers... Milford Sound Scenic Flight

Flying between Queenstown and Milford Sound, I managed to capture some of Milford Sound Scenic Flights fleet at Milford Sound on 10 July 2026

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-MCL

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-MSF

Leased for the winter from Barrier Air, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDG

And a couple of photos of Gippsland GA8 Airvan ZK-ZQN

 

Fiordland Flyers... Glenorchy Air

 

Flying between Queenstown and Milford Sound, Mount Cook or Stewart Island, I was delighted to capture their two Daher Kodiak 100s and their two Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EXs on 10 July 2026

Daher Kodiak 100 ZK-KDI at Milford Sound

Daher Kodiak 100 ZK-KDI back at Queenstown

Daher Kodiak 100 ZK-KDK at Queenstown

Three shots of Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX ZK-MMZ at Milford Sound

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX ZK-PPR at Milford Sound

Fiordland Flyers... Southern Alps Air

Flying between Wānaka and Milford Sound, I managed to capture two Southern Alps Air Gippsland GA8 Airvans at Milford Sound on 10 July 2026... They were departing just after we arrived...

ZK-MLF

ZK-WMF

Air Chathams reinstates some Whanganui flights amid ongoing uncertainty

 

Air Chathams has reinstated some flights between Whanganui and Auckland, but business remains “bloody tough”.

Chief executive Duane Emeny said three return flights had been reinstated over Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. “It’s not huge, but it’s not bad when you multiply that out by 34 seats per flight,” he said. “Thank God for Whanganui, it’s a shining light in what is otherwise a pretty dismal North Island regional network at the moment.”

The airline announced in April it would reduce flights into Whanganui by 22%, after its monthly fuel costs rose from $500,000 to $1 million because of the Middle East conflict.

Emeny said fuel still cost about 20c per litre more than it did in February.

“I’m expecting there will be another increase next month, maybe 5% to 10%.

“It’s just a tinderbox over there [Iran].

“Anyone who seems to know something is predicting the middle of next year before there’ll be any normality, so that’s what we’re forecasting on.”

Renewed tensions involving Iran earlier this month have added to uncertainty in global fuel markets. Emeny said a $20 base surcharge per flight segment, introduced in March, was still in place.

“We certainly considered [removing it] and if it wasn’t for this latest round of events, we would have looked to ease it back.

“The reality is it hasn’t been very effective anyway,” he said.

“From March onwards, we saw such a softening of demand and people were choosing not to travel.”

A Whanganui Airport update report for April 1 to June 30 said there were 9279 passengers through the terminal over that period, a 23.7% drop on 2025.

“It’s bloody tough out there,” Emeny said.

“Margins are thin at the best of times, and then you have something like this happen.”

He said the only positive to come from the fuel crisis was an “elevated conversation” about regional aviation, especially in Australia. Emeny told the Chronicle in April that the Western Australian Government had pledged $122m to its regional aviation sector through to 2031.

“You have to be able to quantify the value of these regional air links and reframe it,” he said this week.

“Instead of looking at it as individual private businesses doing their thing, what’s the value to New Zealand Inc in having those connections?

“And, what’s the loss if you don’t have them?”

The 10-year anniversary of Air Chathams entering the Whanganui market was coming up, and he would be in the city to meet with the business community, Emeny said. The airline’s first flight touched down on August 1, 2016, shortly after Air New Zealand pulled its Whanganui service

“I’m sure a Christchurch route will be top of mind, and there’ll be a lot of questions about basing Air Chathams in Whanganui.

“It will be nice to get down there and get some face-to-face time and feedback.”

Source: Whanganui Chronicle