Air Chathams has been providing flights between Whanganui and Auckland for two years.Air Chathams has been providing flights between Whanganui and Auckland for two years. Two years in and Air Chathams is so confident with its move into the Whanganui market, it is holding up the service as an example to other communities and talking expansion. Air Chathams took over the Whanganui-Auckland route in August 2016 after national carrier Air New Zealand pulled out of the service. General manager Duane Emeny said Air Chathams had settled into Whanganui and was well-liked in the community. "It's good, in a word," Emeny said. "We're very happy with Whanganui. We get a huge amount of positive feedback from the community which is really good." Air Chathams will begin flying between the Kāpiti Coast and Auckland on August 20, again picking up a route ditched by Air New Zealand. "We've used the Whanganui example over and over and over again when we've been talking with the council and community in Kāpiti because we feel there are parallels," Emeny said. "What we have seen with the majority of passengers choosing not to drive 50 minutes [from Whanganui] to Palmerston North and flying out of there gives us confidence that we can do the same in Kāpiti where the drive to Wellington is slightly longer. "We using the same model and aircraft type for Kāpiti Coast as in Whanganui so we have every chance of succeeding. "Now it's onwards and upwards. The key for us in the next 12 months is product development." This would include working more closely with larger carriers and providing interconnectivity for passengers with other airlines. Commercial agreements with larger flag-carrying airlines, such as Air New Zealand, and inclusion of Air Chathams' schedules in the global distribution system used for booking flights would increase awareness of flights to places like Whanganui, Whakatāne and the Chatham Islands. "We want to make sure Whanganui and other smaller centres have better visibility globally," Emeny said. "We hope those changes will increase [passenger] numbers coming through Whanganui." Flights to Christchurch could be a future possibility, Emeny said. "Right now we're prioritising the new Kāpiti service and we need to make sure we can run that successfully. It's really important we do a good job there and get local community support to make that successful. "From there it allows the airline to grow and develop and look at the potential for Christchurch flights. You never know until you try." The airline is also considering introducing its first international flight on the Auckland-Norfolk Island route. "The challenge is making sure we plan for that growth," Emeny said. "Making the step from being a reasonably small operation to a larger second tier airline and resourcing it and doing it properly and having the experience and team to do that." With the future in mind, Air Chathams has recently employed experienced staff from major airlines, including a flight operations manager and a safety manager to develop the airline's safety management systems.
I have always said that Air Chathams will be NZ's main 2nd level regional carrier.
ReplyDeleteI still think that there is develop a 'branded' 2nd level national regional network, in association with Soundsair, etc.
Then next will be Christchurch for Air Chats. They could do Wanganui or Kapiti or both...
ReplyDeleteI still think Air Chathams needs to added WAG/WLG/WAG so they are have a AKL/WAG/WLG/WAG/AKL service, since they have established their presence in Whanganui. One Saab can be use for this rotation.
DeleteI can see Air Chathams getting another Saab in the near future.
WAG-WLG has always been a loser Kris... It is not in the WAG psyche to fly to WLG. WAG-CHC would be much better. At the moment WAG folk flying to CHC and points south have to drive to PMR. Given the good reputation Air Chats has in WAG a WAG-CHC would be worth trying.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know what the loadings where like when Air NZ was operating WLG/WAG/WLG with the Q300's and the 1900's?
DeleteI feel that Air Chathams could make AKl/WAG/WLG/WAG/AKL service work for them, as they have lower operating costs than Air NZ and secondly they will be using a more efficient aircraft type at 34 seats as oppose to either a 19 or 50 seater aircraft which Air NZ was using.
One Saab to fly AKL/WAG/WLG and the return WLG/WAG/AKL on the same day. Air Chathams already has infrastructure in WLG due to the WLG/CHT/WLG services.
WLG has more travel options for Whanganui travelers than what CHC has to offer like Air NZ regular 'shuttle' AT72 flights WLG/CHC/WLG, plus Soundsair WLG/PCN/WLG, WLG/BHE/WLG, WLG/WSZ/WLG, WLG/TUO/WLG and WLG/NSN/WLG services plus Air NZ WLG/BHE/WLG and WLG/NSN/WLG services. The only advantage with CHC, is the gateway to the South Island.
Air Chathams uses Qantas check in at Wellington airport for its WLG/CHT/WLG services and as you now its almost opposite to Soundsair check in counter.
For Air Chathams to fly to CHC, are you thinking of AKL/WAG/CHC/WAG/AKL daily rotation using 1 Saab?
The other question, is there sufficient demand for a WAG/CHC/WAG service?
This is an extract on article from when the service was cut in late 2013...
DeleteFormer Wanganui man Hayden Montgomerie is hoping the city will fight to keep its air connection with Wellington... But Wanganui councillor Rob Vinsen says it's probably a lost cause because it's just not profitable... Wanganui Mayor Annette Main said Air New Zealand... have been making a loss for some time. It would not say how big that loss is. But Mr Borrows has been told the flights wouldn't break even if they were 100 per cent full. He said it was difficult to make a profit on flights in small planes. The airline flies people from Wanganui to Wellington Monday to Friday at 7.05am, and returns them to Wanganui about 7.30pm. On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday the plane flies Taupo-Wanganui-Wellington. The company says a 29 per cent increase in landing charges at Wellington Airport is one of the increasing costs that stop it being viable. A Wanganui Airport staff member said 68 per cent of seats on Wellington flights were filled (Beech 1900 being used), and he had the impression the flights were breaking even. Cr Vinsen said 71 per cent of seats were filled a year ago. Cr Vinsen said Wellington was not a "marketable sector" from Wanganui, even as a link to the South Island, because Palmerston North to Christchurch was cheaper, direct and served by a better schedule.
So the points to note... it was losing... even with TUO-WAG feeding into WAG-WLG it was still not full. This was the second time Air NZ had ditched the route.
Air NZ never used the Q300s did they?
DeleteWhen was the first time Air NZ dropped the route? Was it Air Nelson when they retired the metros? They used to offer two-three flights a day back in the mid 90s to 2000
1. Whanganui people have always driven to Wellington and always will. The only purpose in going to Wellington by air is when their destination is further away than Wellington. Even fully costed, driving is no more costly than flying and for more than one person much cheaper. Departure point (home) to destination point is the same time or less and you don't need to hire a car when you arrive.
Delete2. Whanganui people travelling overseas go north to Auckland. Better choices, better planes, better fares, more frequent flights than Wellington.
3. Travelling south from WAG it is 50 minutes to PMR with all the options south available - shorter journey, much cheaper parking, Koru Lounge etc. There is no reason to go to Wellington.
4. Air Chathams have more and better opportunities for their aircraft than a route to WLG which is a proven loss-maker.
5. If the occasional WAG passenger wants to use the Soundsair flights you cite, they can do that, but PMR take care of that.
Sounds never got it working.... well documented here but it was the caravan. Four guys in a car thats 20 each in gas. Wellington is more likley meeting family a drive straight to the house is much easier than Getting picked up at Wellington airport. What about business opportunities?.. Chch is a viable option
DeleteAgreed. There are good reasons to try WAG/CHC and PRM/CHC, and Air Chathams might have a Metro which could trial that?
DeleteNope, cant ever remember a Q300 service on that routing!!! I do miss the TUO-WAG-WLG flight. My weekly commute!
ReplyDeleteUm Air chats use Air NZ for their checking for CHT flights out of WLG
According to Air Chathams website, WLG check in is at Qantas Counter. It might be manned by Air NZ ground staff with Air Chathams showing on the display boards above the counter.
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