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Two weeks ago, upon the announcement of the acquisition of a 6th Caravan, I wrote in a post, Barrier Air fly serve 6 centres, from Auckland to Kaitaia, Great Barrier Island and Whitianga, and from Great Barrier Island to North Shore and Tauranga. Given Barrier Air's dynamism it will be interesting to see what transpires next, a matter of watch this space!
The watch this space is now over with Barrier Air announcing it will serve Kerikeri from the 4th of August 2024 operating 11 return flights each week between Auckland and Kerikeri. Reported in the Northern Adovcate Barrier Air's Chief executive Grant Bacon said the Kaitāia service is strengthening, including recent success with extra flights on Friday and Sunday nights, to allow a weekend getaway. It has bought a new, $5 million 14-seat Cessna Grand Caravan EX for the Bay of Islands journeys, Bacon said. The expansion to Kerikeri will not reduce the number of Kaitāia flights run by Barrier Air and Whangārei could be next on the agenda if it goes well, he said.
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| Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX ZK-ROW which will join the Barrier Air fleet as ZK-SDA later this year. Photo taken at Auckland on 28 April 2024 |
In an interesting comparison the article reported that Air New Zealand had cancelled 4.8 per cent of its flights in and out of Kerikeri - the majority due to weather - Barrier Air cancelled just four Kaitāia flights last year, about 0.3 per cent, all due to weather.
Barrier could potentially do quite well here. With Air NZs incredible Domestic Fare hike, if Barrier can keep prices reasonable, people will jump on board. Sounds Air have proved it is possible to compete with Air NZ (albeit on a much smaller scale)
ReplyDeleteAt least we now expect fares to KKE on Air NZ to come down a but haha
Whangarei could be the eighth destination in the article. Certainly a bigger market as well.
ReplyDelete