2024 - The NZ airline scene in review

  

On the 1st of January I made some predictions of what might be this year... you can read them here... https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2024/01/crystal-ball-gazing-for-2024.html

2024 proved an interesting year particularly with changes for our airfreight operators. Changes of types on various routes was a feature but at the end of the year some announcements were made which will feature in 2025. Here's what happened...

17 January 2024

Airwork's Boeing 737-400 ZK-TLK operated its last service. The aircraft's last flights were as AWK81 from Melbourne to Auckland departing Melbourne on the evening of Tuesday the 16th of January 2024 to arrive in Auckland in the early morning of the 17th of  January. The aircraft was cancelled from the register on the 2nd of May 2024 and has now joined the airframes the Auckland Airport Rescue Fire Service use on the other side of the runway.

Airwork's Boeing 737-400 ZK-TLK at Auckland on 18 January 2024

7 February 2024

Texel Air's third Boeing 737-800 freighter for Australasian operations entered domestic service on the 1st of February 2024. Boeing 737-8FE ZK-TXC flew TNZ 73 to Christchurch and the return service, TNZ 74. It then operated another return flight to Christchurch in the early hours of the 2nd of February 2024 as TNZ 74 and TNZ 77. 

Texel Air's Boeing 737-800 freighter, ZK-TXC, arriving into Auckland on 6 February 2024

20 February 2024

Air Chathams operated their final Metroliner services. The final freight flights were operated by ZK-CID on the 19th and 20th of February 2024 when it flew from the Chatham Islands to Wellington as 3C 212 and the return sector as 3C 221 (on the 19th) and then the final sector as 3C 212 on the 20th of February 2024, this flight being the final Metroliner revenue earning flight in New Zealand. It then positioned back to Auckland as 3C 934. It was later confirmed in media reports that ZK-CID's end with Air Chathams came somewhat earlier than expected. On the 19th of February a car load of drunken hoons smashed down a gate and destroyed runway lights. The group then drove up to the parked Metroliner and five people climbed on to its wings. The driver of the vehicle – a Toyota Hilux – decided to drive it under the wing while the others were on it but it was too tall and collided with the underside of the plane. Apparently the aircraft was certified to be flown back to Wellington and on to Auckland, being its final two sectors.

Air Chathams' last Fairchild Metroliner, ZK-CID, at Chatham Island on 12 January 2024 between freight flights to New Zealand. Photo : R Deerness

7 April 2024

Air Chathams recommenced ATR flights to Whanganui with ATR 72-500 ZK-MCO flying the first return service between Auckland and Whanganui.  Over the winter months the airline's ATRs will operate the Friday afternoon services, the Saturday departure at 8.00am, the Sunday afternoon services leaving Auckland at 12.30pm and the return flight from Whanganui departing at 4.30pm the northbound Monday morning flight.

Air Chathams' ATR 72 ZK-MCO arriving into Whanganui today with 3C 712. Photo : R Deerness

17-18 April 2024

Airwork's Boeing 737-300, ZK-FXK, flew its last air cargo services with the carrier on the 17th of April 2024 from Auckland to Melbourne as AIRWORK 4 and the return flight, AIRWORK 5, in the early hours of the 18th of April 2024. The aircraft was broken up in late September before being cancelled from the register on the 4th of October 2024

Airwork's Boeing 737-300 ZK-FXK at Auckland on 5 September 2023

21 April 2024

Air New Zealand commenced scheduled ATR-72 services to Hokitika for the first time with ATR 72-600 ZK-MVQ operating the first return service under the command of Captain Brendan O'Halloran and First Officer Ben Rochford with Dale and Vinay in the cabin. In a nice touch, First Officer Ben Rochford, a son of Hokitika, flew the sector into his Hokitika hometown as NZ5834 with Captain Brendan O'Halloran flying the return sector to Christchurch as NZ5837. Initially the ATR 72 was to operate the Sunday evening Hokitika flights over the winter months but now the Sunday evening ATR flights are part of the regular schedule.

Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 ZK-MVQ at Hokitika on 21 April 2024 inaugurating the weekly Sunday afternoon flights between Christchurch and Hokitika. 

21 April 2024

Barrier Air started a second evening flight from Auckland to Kaitaia on Sunday and Friday evening and a second Friday evening and a new Sunday evening flight from Kaitaia to Auckland. The first flights, GB617 to Kaitaia and the return GB618 were operated with Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SDB. This increased Kaitaia services to 17 return flights each week.

Barrier Air's first Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SDB operating the Sunday evening Auckland-Kaitaia-Auckland service on 15 December 2024

22 April 2024

Air New Zealand commenced ATR winter flights to Kerikeri with ATR 72-600 ZK-MVQ flying the first return service, NZ5266 northbound and NZ5267 southbound. Initially the ATR 72s operated on a  Monday morning. From the 18th of September the ATR service switched to Wednesdays and this weekly flight operated until the 9th of October. The ATR then switched to a Friday and remains a weekly feature in Kerikeri 

Air New Zealand ATR-72 ZK-MZC at Kerikeri on 5 August 2024

29 April 2024

Sunair reintroduced Hamilton to its network. The first flight Gisborne-Hamilton flight was flown on Monday 29 April 2024 by Paul Corrin in Piper Aztec ZK-DIR. ZK-DIR also flew the first reinstated Hamilton-Whangarei service on 1 May 2024. 

Paul Corrin with his passenger and Piper Aztec at Hamilton on 29 April 2024 after the arrival of the reinstated service from Gisborne and Napier

16 May 2024

Merlin Labs' Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster ZK-MLO started operating charter freight flights on behalf of Air Kaikoura to assist their air freighting of crayfish from Kaikoura to Wellington. The Cargomaster was used on 17 flights.

Merlin Labs' Cessna 208B Cargomaster ZK-MLO arriving into Wellington from Kaikoura with a cargo of seafood on 14 November 2024

21 May 2024

Airwork Boeing 737-300 freighter ended service with it final four revenue sectors being operated in Australia that day as follows: Sydney-Brisbane (TXF41), Brisbane-Cairns (TFX52), Cairns-Darwin (TFX53) and Darwin-Brisbane (TFX51). On the 22nd of July 2024 it positioned from Brisbane to Auckland and on to Hamilton (AWK995). It was cancelled from the register as withdrawn on the 13th of November 2024

Boeing 737-300 ZK-FXJ at Auckland on 6 June 2020

17 June 2024

Boeing 777-367ER ZK-OKV entered service with Air New Zealand flying NZ175 from Auckland to Perth and the return NZ176 which arrived early the next morning.

Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKV departing Auckland for Perth on its first Air New Zealand service, NZ175, on 17 June 2024. Photo : Andrew Aley

17 July 2024

Air Chathams' Saab SF 340B ZK-CIZ began operating domestic flights in Tonga between Tongatapu and Vava'u on  behalf of Lulutai Airlines 

Air Chathams' Saab 340 ZK-CIZ at Vava'u on 24 September 2024. Photo : A Breen

4 August 2024

Barrier Air launched its new Kerikeri-Auckland air service. The first flight, GB515, was flown by Steve Holden in Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SDG. The first southbound flight, GB504, was operated the following morning on the 5th of August 2024.

ZK-SDG on the ground at Kerikeri on 4 August 2024 after the arrival of Barrier Air's inaugural flight

 

8 August 2024

Air Chathams' Saab 340A freighter ZK-CIW entered service on the 8th of August 2024 flying from Auckland to the Chatham Islands as CHATHAMS 391 and returning as CHATHAMS 319.

Air Chathams' first Saab 340A freighter, ZK-CIW, at Auckland on 14 August 2024

19 August 2024

Air Chathams' Saab 340A ZK-CIT entered service on the 19th of August 2024 flying from Auckland to Paraparaumu as CHATHAMS 648. It returned to Auckland the following day, the 20th of August 2024, as CHATHAMS 641.

ZK-CIT doing after engine checks at Auckland on 12 May 2024

29 August 2024

Air Chathams recommenced their weekly Thursday flights to Norfolk Island after the winter break. The first flights 3C401 from Auckland and the return 3C402 were operated by ATR 72 ZK-MCO. 

Air Chathams' ATR 72-500 ZK-MCO at Norfolk Island. Photo : Burnt Pine Travel Facebook page

1 October 2024

Texel Air's Boeing 737-8B5(BCF) ZK-TXE operated into the Chatham Islands as TNZ176/NZ175. This was the first Boeing 737 land on the Chathams and to use the extended runway at Tuuta Airport

Texel Air's Boeing 737-800 ZK-TXE at the Chathams airport on 1 October 2024

23 October 2024

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, ZK-SDA, entered service with Barrier Air flying GBA 713 to Kaitaia and the return flight GBA 714.

Barrier Air's Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX at Auckland on 28 October 2024

26 October 2024

Boeing 777-300, ZK-OKW, entered service with Air New Zealand's latest flying NZ175 from Auckland to Perth.

Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKW departs Auckland for Perth on 26 October 2024

31 December 2024

Sounds Air flew its final services to Taupō today, the 31st of December 2024. The final flights, S8 804, from Wellington to Taupō, and S8 805, from Taupō to Wellington were flown in Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLZ under the command of Na'ama Gueta.

Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLZ arrives at Taupō with a full load on the airline's last flight from Wellington, S8 804, on 31 December 2024

31 December 2024

Sounds Air flew its final services to Westport today. The final flights, S8 903, from Wellington to Westport, and S8 904, from Westport to Wellington were flown in Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLZ under the command of Na'ama Gueta.

Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLZ at Westport on 31 December 2024 before operating S8 904, the final Sounds Air service to Wellington. Photo : Pete Dickson