22 June 2019

End of the Whangārei Service?



It looks as if Fly My Sky has pulled the plug on its Auckland to Whangārei service. It is no longer possible to book seats on the service on the company's website.

The air service began on the 29th of October 2018 using the company's Britten Norman Islander aircraft. The first flight to Whangārei, FS3069, was operated in Islander ZK-SFK. The only passengers were Whangārei MP Dr Shane Reti and the airline's chief executive and co-owner Keith McKenzie. Keith McKenzie said, "Our company has considered the possibility of expanding into other areas for some time and Whangārei presented the best opportunity for us with the aircraft we currently operate." The southbound flight carried the first fare paying passenger. The scheduled flights operated return journeys twice daily, Monday to Friday.

About to board for Whangārei on 17 December 2018, BN Islander ZK-SFK at Auckland.

In mid January Fly My Sky chief executive Keith McKenzie was reported as saying "Passenger numbers are definitely building more towards what we're after. They are still slightly slow but we're getting quite a few return and repeat customers," McKenzie said. "Obviously the timing of our flights suit our customers. We're still getting quite a few inquiries going forward and it's looking encouraging with several flights almost full."

Fly My Sky's Whangārei check in counter

For some time flights with no passengers have been cancelled. The final flight to Whangārei appears to have been on Thursday the 20th of June with BN Islander ZK-SFK (call sign ISLAND 2 KILO) flying the afternoon service to Whangārei and return.


12 comments:

  1. The big hail Mary has failed. Conceived in a moment of folly and implemented due to a lifetime of hubris. A fleet of ancient Islanders pitted against the Dash 8s? Who would have guessed that this would have been the outcome. The service goes out with a sad little whimper and the operation slinks off with it’s ragged tail between it’s legs. One of the biggest "Duh" moments in a while.

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  2. ^ and you go home smugly satisfied that another operator has failed in an attempt to expand their business. It's important to keep those tall poppies in check

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    1. Are you suggesting that FlymySky is a Tall Poppy?

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  3. Well, well. Who would have thought that FMS would be in this position today? An all ready stretched operation operating unreliable, un marketable museum pieces. Just tacking on a whole new route against one of the finest airlines in the world with not even one additional staff member. It reeks of an airline pilot turning up, pulling the strings of an owner that should have known better and thinking he has any clue about operating a airline from a business prospective.

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    1. Unreliable?? Air nz had more cancellations on the same route during the same period. So pull your head out your arse!

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    2. At least they had bookings..... and even with all these apparent cancellations sounds like Air NZ were carrying more passengers on one flight than FMS did over the entire time this "Duh Moment" played out

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  4. Oooooh,someone is pretty touchy. Sounds like someone close to the epicentre of this little shambles too. Just accept that euthanasia was the kindest course of action fella

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  5. Since you raised it oh touchy one.... ever thought we have all been trying to see things from your point of view but we cannot seem to get our heads that far up our arses!

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  6. Please be civil with the comments... Thank you.

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  7. God damn, I thought this was civil.

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  8. In a small country like New Zealand with very few charter operators I thought most people would support 125/135 operators giving it a go. The BN2s might be museum pieces, but still maintained accordingly and a pretty ideal machine for Barrier runs. Instead of flogging someone online, give them some support.

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    1. ^^ Yes, couldn't agree more. Support your industry guys because it's getting harder every day!

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