Final Westport Flights

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.

The final Sounds Air flight to Westport on the Wellington departure board

The last Sounds Air flight to Westport, S8 903, departs Wellington on 31 December 2024

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

Sounds Air had been operating the Wellington-Westport routre since the 28th of April 2015. On that day the local brass band was there, the Lions put on a sausage sizzle and about 150 people gathered to check out the Pilatus PC-12 which positioned in from Wellington. The first service from Westport to Wellington was flown in Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLS as SDA 988 under the command of chief pilot Willie Sage. 

Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLS at Westport for the first Sounds Air service on 28 April 2015

When announcing the decision to withdraw its Westport service in October Sounds Air's CEO Andrew Crawford admitted to Stuff Travel it was a “sad day“. “We've been doing it now for nine years and really feel we've given Buller tremendous support and they admit that, but the economic climate is such that it's just not tenable. It’s depressing really.” The service had a “pretty reasonable” 65% capacity on flights. The aviation market is the toughest he has seen in his 21 years at the airline: “Post Covid, the combination of staggering jet fuel costs, a weak NZD exchange rate, increasing landing fees and CAA charges, wage pressures, high interest rates, and the dramatic international escalation in the costs of servicing engines have been crippling. This coupled with ongoing supply chain disruptions has been brutal for us, as it has been for Air New Zealand. We currently have two aircraft grounded awaiting parts, with no known delivery dates.” He also stressed a frustration with a lack of government support, having been encouraged to apply for funding through the Provincial Growth Fund and the Regional Infrastructure Fund, but had been rejected twice. Sounds Air confirmed it is dropping the route from December 31. “I don't have the time or the energy (to apply again). It's just (a) very, very long and painful process and I'm not doing it again. When you see the support that the national carrier has gotten over the years and (with) regional aviation, the regional operators are expected to mortgage their properties to support regional connectivity in this country. Frankly, I find it embarrassing.” But he added: “There's no shame in pulling out. I mean at some point you got to make business decisions and this is a decision.”

Sounds Air's Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLT at Westport on a rather gloomy day on 21 May 2021

Originair pick up the Wellington-Westport route from 3 January 2025.