29 December 2019

2019 - The NZ domestic airline scene in review



 You can read what I thought my crystal ball gazing was at the beginning of the year here...  
https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2019/01/crystal-ball-gazing-for-2019.html


2019 started off with a roar with a new aircraft for Air Chathams and Golden Bay Air. 



I had predicted no changes for Jetstar... how wrong could I be!



Here are the highlights of what actually did happen this year...




11 January 2019

Air Chathams' third Saab 340, ZK-CIY entered service.

Air Chathams' Saab 340A ZK-CIY, departing Auckland on its first revenue service, Flight 3C 650 
to the Kāpiti Coast on 11 January 2019.



30 January 2019

Air Napier introduces regular dedicated passenger flights between Napier and Gisborne. Previously passengers were carried on the airline's Napier-Gisborne courier flights as space permitted. 



7 February 2019

Golden Bay Air's Gippsland Airvan ZK-ZUG entered service flying a Takaka-Wellington return service. This led to the sale of Piper Saratoga ZK-ZIG on 12 June 2019

Golden Bay Air's Gippsland Airvan ZK-ZUG at Wellington on 12 February 2019



8 February 2019

Air Chathams' ATR 72-500 ZK-MCO entered service positioning from Auckland to Wellington as CVA272 (Chathams 272) and then flying a Wellington-Blenheim Tauck Tours' flight as CVA273 (Chathams 273).

Air Chathams' ATR 72-500 ZK-MCO about to depart Nelson on a divestment flight on 18 January 2018



4 March 2019

Barrier Air added an extra six lunchtime flights per week from Auckland to Kaitaia giving the northern town 12 flights a week and a daily air service to Auckland.




4 April 2019

Sunair resumed flights connecting Gisborne to Tauranga and Hamilton. Initially twice daily return flights were offered on Thursdays and Fridays. 


29 May 2019

Jetstar withdrew its thrice weekly Airbus 320 service between Dunedin and Wellington.


14 June 2019

Air Chathams commence scheduled services using ATR 72 ZK-MCO with the 66 seater operating weekend flights were operated between Auckland and Whanganui. The first flight was flight 3C 704 between Auckland and Whanganui.




20 June 2019


Fly My Sky cut its Auckland-Whangārei service. The service had started on the 29th of October 2018. The final service to and from Whangārei was operated by BN Islander ZK-SFK 
Fly My Sky BN Islander ZK-SFK at Whangarei. Photographer unknown


30 July 2019

After the success of Barrier Air's six lunchtime flights per week from Auckland to Kaitaia the airline added an additional service on Tuesdays giving Kaitaia 13 flights a week to Auckland.



5 August 2019


Sunair increases Whangarei-Hamilton/Tauranga and Gisborne-Tauranga/Hamilton services to a Monday to Friday schedule

Sunair's Piper Aztec ZK-EVP at Hamilton on 7 November 2019


25 August 2019

Air New Zealand launched a direct five days a week service between Invercargill and Auckland using Airbus 320s. The first service to Invercargill, NZ699, was operated by ZK-OAB with the first service to Auckland, NZ698, operated the following day.

Air New Zealand Airbus 320 ZK-OAB at Invercargill after operating the first flight, NZ 699, on 25 August 2019


6 September 2019

Air Chathams inaugurate a weekly scheduled Auckland-Norfolk Island service. Services operate each Friday. 

The first flight to Norfolk Island, 3C 401, flown under the command of founder and owner Craig Emeny and his son, Duane Emeny, Air Chathams' General Manager, in Convair ZK-CIB.




27 September 2019


Barrier Air offered its first double Friday night flight to Kaitaia. Due to increasing passenger numbers the airline has added an additional Friday evening service to and from Kaitaia whenever the 6.15pm departure from Auckland is full.  the airline will add a 6.30pm departure from Auckland.

Barrier Air's inaugural double Friday evening service to Kaitaia... Cessna 208 Grand Caravans ZK-SDC and ZK-SDD on the ground at Kaitaia on Friday on 27 September 2019


18 November 2019

Air Nelson ends operations with the cessation of the Air Nelson Air Operating Certificate. As from the 19th of November 2019 the Air Nelson Bombardier Q300 aircraft operated under the Air New Zealand Air Operating Certificate. 

Air Nelson commenced scheduled services between Nelson and Wellington on the 16th of December 1985. Air Nelson's first aircraft, Piper PA31 Navajo ZK-NSN at Nelson on 20 January 1986


29 November 2019

Originair resumes regular scheduled operations one year after the regular services ceased. BAe Jetstream ZK-JSH operated a Nelson-Palmerston North-Nelson service.

Originair's BAe Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH at Nelson on 7 September 2018


29 November 2019

Air Chathams commence Saab 340 operations to Whakatāne

Saab 340 ZK-KRA at Whakatane on the inaugural flight on 29 November 2019


30 November 2019

Jetstar withdraw its regional services operated by Bombardier Q300s. Routes cut were Auckland to Napier, Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Nelson and from Nelson to Wellington.

Lining up at Auckland Airport for the last day's services, Jetstar Bombardier Q300s VH-TQD, VH-TQL VH-SBI VH-TQM. 


6 December 2019

Air Auckland's Cessna 206 Stationair ZK-DZH entered service.

Air Auckland Cessna 206 ZK-DZH at Ardmore on 6 December 2019


9 December 2019

Sounds Air's sixth Pilatus PC12, ZK-PLB entered service.

Pilatus PC12 ZK-PCB at Omaka on 28 November 2019


9 December 2019

Mount Cook Airlines ends operations with the cessation of the Mount Cook Airlines Air Operating Certificate. As from the 10th of December 2019 the Mount Cook ATR 72 aircraft are operated under the Air New Zealand Air Operating Certificate.

Mount Cook's scheduled services commenced on the 6th of November 1961 with Douglas DC-3 ZK-BKD flying from Christchurch to Mount Cook, Cromwell and Te Anau . The first Mount Cook airliner, Douglas DC-3, ZK-BKD, at Christchurch  first Douglas DC-3, ZK-BKD, at Christchurch.

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