40 years of Scheduled Metroliner Passenger Services Ends

Without fuss or fanfare Air Chathams' ended their scheduled passenger Metroliner services in New Zealand with Air Chathams' Fairchild Metro 23 ZK-POF flying their final scheduled passenger flights, 3C 821 from Whakatāne to Auckland and the return 3C 820 and the final 3C 827 again from Whakatāne to Auckland under the command of Alan Martin and Cameron Lindsay

In an email to 3rd Level New Zealand Air Chathams' Chief Operating Officer wrote, Yes a sad day in many respects as our last scheduled Metroliner service. Albeit, I think you haven’t seen the last of the pencil on Air Chathams routes with increased demand for services leading up to Christmas and a need to cover Saabs in maintenance. ZK-CID is being kept very busy out on the Chathams flying seafood out and general goods in to the island.

Air Chathams announces the arrival of flight 3C 827 into Auckland from Whakatāne, the last scheduled Metroliner service in New Zealand operating by Fairchild Metro 23 ZK-POF

The annoying fuel tanker that stopped me getting some side on shots of POF... It pulled up just as the Metro was establishing on long finals

However, today was more than the end of just Air Chathams' scheduled passenger Metroliner flights... Today marks the end of 40 years of scheduled Metroliner passenger operations in New Zealand.

Metroliners were first introduced to New Zealand in 1983 by Air Albatross. The company’s first Swearingen Metroliner, ZK-SWA, was a 1978 model purchased for “around the $1 million mark” from Skywest Airlines, of Perth. It arrived in Wellington in late November 1983 in preparation for the amendment to the Air Services Licensing Act, an Act which changed regional air travel in New Zealand.

Air Albatross began Metroliner operations on the 15th of December 1983 with Swearingen Metroliner II ZK-SWA and by Christmas 1983 the Metroliner was making four daily flights into Nelson and three into Blenheim. For the next 40 years Metroliners were to fly our skies operated by a number of airlines connecting regional New Zealand to the main centres. The airlines and the Metroliners they operated are listed below with a selection of photos...

Metroliners operated by Air Albatross;

ZK-SWA - Swearingen SA226TC Metroliner IIA (c/n TC-256)

ZK-SWB - Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV (c/n AT-033)

ZK-SWC - Swearingen SA226TC Metroliner IIA (c/n TC-270)

ZK-SWD - Swearingen SA226TC Metroliner II (c/n TC-287)

Air Albatross' first Swearingen Metroliner II, ZK-SWA, at Nelson on 15 April 1984

Air Albatross began Metroliner operations on the 15th of December 1983 and by Christmas 1983 the Metroliner was making four daily flights into Nelson and three into Blenheim with its speed and rate of climb impressing locals in both centres.

Swearingen Metroliner II ZK-SWD in Air Albatross' spectacular blue scheme at Christchurch in November 1985

For more on Air Albatross see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2018/02/air-albatross-cook-strait-commuter.html

Metroliners operated by Air Chathams;

ZK-CIC - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metroliner III (c/n AC-623)

ZK-CID - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-692B) - ex ZK-NSS

ZK-POF - Fairchild Swearingen SA227CC Metro 23 (c/n CC-844B)

Air Chathams Metroliner ZK-CIC fuelled and loaded starts at Christchurch for the long haul to the Chathams on 11 November 1996.

ZK-CIC in Air Chatham's Whakatāne colour scheme, at Whakatāne on 21 April 2017

Air Chathams' Metro 23 ZK-POF at Whakatāne on 7 September 2019

For more on Air Chathams see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2016/01/air-chathams-30-years-on.html

Metroliner operated by Air National;

ZK-CIC - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metroliner III (c/n AC-623)

Metroliner ZK-CIC at New Plymouth on 8 October 1999 being operated for Origin Pacific with an Air National callsign.

For more on Air National see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/03/au-revoir-air-national-1-early-turbo.html

Metroliners operated by Air Nelson;

ZK-NSI - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-765)

ZK-NSJ - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-767)

ZK-NSQ - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-706)

ZK-NSS - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-692B) - later to ZK-CID

ZK-NST - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-530)

ZK-NSU - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-705)

ZK-NSV - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-513)

ZK-NSW - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-508)

ZK-NSX - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-542)

ZK-NSY - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-711)

ZK-NSZ - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-712)

Air Nelson's second Fairchild Metroliner III, ZK-NSV at Hokitika on 31 May 1989

Displaying Trans World Express colours, Fairchild Metroliner ZK-NSU, with Air Nelson titles, at Hokitika on 14 May 1990.

Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-NSS in Air Metro colours at Nelson on 9 September 1990

Shown in the first Air New Zealand Link colour scheme is Air Nelson's Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-NSV at Hokitika on 3 December 1997.

Only one of Air Nelson's Saabs or Metroliners featured the final Link scheme, namely Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-NSY seen here arriving at Hokitika from Christchurch on the 5th of November 2001

For more on Air Nelson see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2017/07/air-nelson-part-1-nelson-wellington.html

Metroliners operated by Airwork on passenger and air ambulance work;

ZK-LFT - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-582) 

ZK-NSS - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-692B) - later to ZK-CID

ZK-PAA - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-582) - later ZK-LFT

ZK-POB - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-606B)

Airwork operated Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-PAA with Starship Hospital Childflight titles at Hokitika on 29 December 1997. The Metroliner was later reregistered ZK-LFT (see below)

Life Flight NZ air ambulance Fairchild Metroliner III, ZK-LFT at Auckland on 28 July 2011

Sylink was Airwork's passenger charter operator. Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-POB at Auckland on 15 June 2010

CHATHAM AIRLINK

Metroliner operated by Chatham Airlink;

ZK-NSS - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-692B) - later to ZK-CID

Fairchild Metroliner ZK-NSS that flew the Chatham Airlink service at Auckland on 29 November 1996.

For more on Chatham Airlink see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2012/06/chatham-airlink.html

Metroliners operated by Eagle Air;

ZK-NSQ - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-706)

ZK-NSW - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-508)

ZK-NSX - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-542)

ZK-OAA - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-546)

ZK-PBA - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-547)

ZK-RCA - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-637)

ZK-SDA - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-641)

Eagle's first Fairchild Metroliner ZK-NSQ was leased from Air Nelson. It was photographed at Nelson on 17 April 1991

One of Eagle's first Fairchild Metroliners... ZK-PBA at Gisborne on 22 January 1992

Eagle Air's Fairchild Metroliner ZK-PBA at Tauranga on 17 September 1998... the Air New Zealand titles and Pacific Wave are behind the passenger door

For more on Eagle Air see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2013/01/eagle-airways-part-1-fledgling-eagle.html

Metroliners operated by Airwork's NZ Post operation;

ZK-NSS - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-692B) - later to ZK-CID

ZK-POA - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-551B

ZK-POB - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-606B)

ZK-POE - Fairchild Swearingen SA227CC Metro 23 (c/n CC-843B)

ZK-POF - Fairchild Swearingen SA227CC Metro 23 (c/n CC-844B)

In NZ Post colours, Fairchild Metroliner III ZK-POB at Nelson on 25 June 1999

Metroliners operated by Origin Pacific Airways;

ZK-CIC - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metroliner III (c/n AC-623) - leased

ZK-JSJ - Fairchild Swearingen SA227DC Metro 23 (c/n DC-888B) - operated by Air Chathams

ZK-JSV - Fairchild Swearingen SA227DC Metro 23 (c/n DC-868B) - operated by Air Chathams

ZK-POA - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-551B) - operated by Airwork  

ZK-POB - Fairchild Swearingen SA227AC Metro III (c/n AC-606B) - operated by Airwork

ZK-POE - Fairchild Swearingen SA227CC Metro 23 (c/n CC-843B) - operated by Airwork

ZK-POF - Fairchild Swearingen SA227CC Metro 23 (c/n CC-844B) - operated by Airwork

Painted in full Origin Pacific colours, Air Chathams' ZK-CIC at Christchurch awaiting take off clearance on runway 29 while on an Origin Pacific freight flight on 16 October 2000.

Fairchild Metro 23 ZK-JSJ at Christchurch on 23 June 2001.

For more on Origin Pacific Airways see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/08/origin-pacific-airways-airline-for-our.html

Metroliner operated by Pacifica Air;

ZK-MES - Swearingen SA226TC Metroliner II (c/n TC-231)

Pacifica Air's Swearingen Metroliner II, ZK-MES at Christchurch on 26 April 1987.

For more on Pacifica Air see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/10/pacifica-air-profile.html