UPDATED APRIL 2024
Texel Air describes itself as filling a niche market for specialised cargo missions requiring resourceful solutions with consignments delivered to tight deadlines supported by an uncompromised level of customer service. It was founded by John Chisholm's Chisholm Enterprises in 2013 as a Bahrain registered airline dedicated to providing ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) charter and CMI (Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) operations from its Gulf base. Before forming Chisolm Enterprises in 2006 John had been helped DHL in the Middle East. With his logistical and managerial experience behind him he saw the potential for a niche air freight operator.
In 2013 Chisholm Enterprises and Texel Air moved into their new 3200m2 hangar and office facility at Bahrain International Airport establishing Maintenance and Repair Organisation (MRO) facilities which support airframe (line and base) services with technical support encompassing engineering, planning and material services.
In 2014 Texel Air WLL was granted a Bahraini Aircraft Operators Certificate by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs deploying Boeing 737-300F aircraft for cargo operations. All Texel's aircraft, to date, are leased. Three Boeing 737-300Fs were initially used, A9C-JWC from January 2015 to May 2015, A9C-JNC (Samantha) from January 2015 until June 2016 and A9C-TXL from January 2015 until September 2021. Boeing 737-300F, A9C-APC (Samantha), which previously operated for Air New Zealand as ZK-NGP, entered service in September 2015 and remains in the fleet.
In August 2020 the first Boeing 737-700 FlexCombi, A9C-FLX (Nynke), was added to the fleet, Texel Air being the launch customer for the variant. The 700 series Boeing is capable of carrying up to 24 passengers in addition to its freight payload. A second 737-700, A9C-SJW, entered service in September 2021 while A9C-FLX was returned to its lessor in August 2022.
In January 2022 Texel Air introduced a Boeing 737-800BCF, A9C-GWC (Vera), to its fleet. The 800 is capable of carrying up to 23.9 tonnes of freight and flying it some 3,750 kilometres. A second Boeing 737-800BCF, A9C-JNC, arrived in Bahrain in September 2022 and this is operated for DHL in full DHL colours.
Texel Air's arrival in New Zealand came quite suddenly with a certain level of mystery about it. Texel Air New Zealand Ltd was established on the 31st of August 2022.
On the 31st of March 2023 Texel Air's Boeing 737-33A(SF) A9C-APC arrived in Auckland. This particular aircraft was not a stranger to New Zealand skies, previously being operated by Air New Zealand as ZK-NGP. The following day the Air Cargo News website reported, Texel Air Bahrain has deployed a Boeing B737-300 freighter to Auckland, New Zealand to operate charter services for Parceline Express, a subsidiary of Freightways and New Zealand Post. The freighter will fly on a Auckland – Christchurch – Auckland route. Texel Air Bahrain will continue the charter services until Texel Air NZ Ltd, established in February, commences operations with its B737-800BFC in May this year on the same route. Headquartered in Auckland, Texel Air NZ provides ACMI and charter services.
Texel Air began Auckland-Christchurch-Auckland services on the night of the 3rd and 4th of April 2023 with Boeing 737-33A(SF) A9C-APC operating two return services, XLR 73 southbound and XLR 74 northbound, both departing on 3 April 2023 and XLR 77 and XLR 78 operating in the early hours of 4 April 2023.
Texel Air's Boeing 737-300 A9C-APC at Auckland on 4 April 2023 |
Texel Air's Boeing 737-8B5F ZK-ZK-TXE at Auckland on 29 May 2023 |
The second Boeing 737-800 for Texel Air's Australasian operations, N739CE departing Auckland for Hamilton on 29 September 2023 |
Texel Air's Boeing 737-800 ZK-TXA at Auckland on 21 October 2023 operating TEXEL 6101 to Christchurch |
Texel Air's third Boeing 737-800 freighter for Australasian operations, ZK-TXC, arriving into Auckland from Christchurch as TNZ 6102 on 6 February 2024 |
AKLCHCAKL on 30th May was to test new gate markings.
ReplyDeleteCurious about what effect this will have on Parcelair (which I believe previously held the contract for NZ Post/Freightways -- and in fact was 50% owned by Freightways?) Wasn't the whole reason they upgraded to 737-400s due to the NZ Post/Freightways cargo-sharing agreement?
ReplyDeleteParcelair higher ups are heavily involved with Texel, it's Airwork who own the 737-400s and will feel the heat from this change. Freightways and their subsidiaries are building relationships with Texel rather than viewing each other as competitors.
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