31 May 2016

Air Chatham's Whanganui Press Release




Whanganui Air Service Announcement

Air Chathams is thrilled to announce that they will be commencing scheduled flight operations between Auckland & Whanganui. Flights will commence immediately after the withdrawal of Air New Zealand’s scheduled services towards the end of July this year. Air Chathams will operate the same weekday schedule that Air NZ operates currently, with some minor changes to the current weekend schedule to better suit the Whanganui-Auckland leisure market. More details on schedule to be flown will be made available soon. CEO for Air Chathams Mr Craig Emeny ‘is encouraged by the resolve shown by Whanganui elected representatives to get in behind Air Chathams following Air NZ’s decision to discontinue their Whanganui services. Craig is very excited at the prospect of getting to know more about the region and its people in the coming months and continuing the air service the community needs. Air Chathams has operated scheduled airline services for over 30 years, with a range of aircraft and operating to a range of destinations within New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific. The airline was built around the Chatham Island community, and has helped develop the live crayfish export market from nothing in the 1980’s to almost 400 tonnes annually in present times. As well as significantly improving schedule reliability & frequency from Chatham Islands to mainland New Zealand. Craig has built the airline by ensuring that needs of the communities his airline serves are met first, and that the airline continues to work with local businesses and customers to ensure the best level of service. In more recent times this has been evident in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, where Air Chathams took over services between Auckland & Whakatane after Air NZ’s withdrawal. Within a year Air Chathams proved its ability to provide the service and pulled back a large percentage of market share that was lost to Tauranga & Rotorua airports . Air Chathams has worked closely with local government and tourism bodies to develop niche markets that continue to stimulate the regions visitor growth. Projects such as the themed Douglas DC-3 flights, and the ‘Flying Billboard’ promoting Whakatane as a tourism destination are just a few of the ways that Air Chathams have integrated themselves into the local community. Craig Emeny has stated,  “We understand the commercial reasons that have prompted Air New Zealand to make this decision, but I want to assure the Whanganui community that Air Chathams will continue to work with the national carrier, and will ensure that Whanganui receives a safe, reliable air service enabling the region to continue to grow into the future”

15 comments:

  1. Reading your many historical posts in regards to the many 3rd levelers that have come and gone in the past.. there has always been a huge emphasise on liveries. Mount Cook for example. Even a leased islander for a marginal northland route wasn't missed in a full Mount Cook repaint... what is it in today's world that prevents the likes of Sunday and Barrier Air to get a common livery theme going..? Was it "as cheap as chips" 50 cents could get you a full fish and chips my mum always says..? Back then.. is it just so expensive now days..? Or with Sounds airs pc12s going to Australia... is there no aircraft paint shops here in nz or is there not really much emphasis on it in this day in age of the volatile airline age where you are doing well just to survive five weeks kindago thing..? Or does having a brand or standout livery not make the difference like it might have once.? Or is it my old age of those rich colours of Ansetts shooting stars and Mount Cook Airlines rainbow livery corrupting my mind haha. Just think like... Sun air.. so much you could do with a name like that!!!

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    1. The only one that was 'fully' approved by CAA went into liquidation because people were just getting 'non approved' people to do it. ie truck/car repainters.

      Airnz closed their one in CHC more than likely due to the outfit in Townsville being able to do it cheaper and possibly quicker as well.

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    2. Air NZ closed their one, due to airport requirements and environment court rejection.

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    4. There is more to running an airline than worrying too much about the color of the aeroplane. Yes it sets a standard of professionalism but at the level of Barrier and Sunair it would in a lot of cases mean the difference of profit/loss.

      It's hard work to turn a profit from small aircraft in scheduled flying.

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    5. Sunair has EVP, ERM and PIX in a standard scheme - DIR is similar well but it has a pure white base. In my opinion it looks better than the other three which look a little drab. See http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-aztecs-of-sunair.html

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    6. Thanks heaps for the replies, never realised just how few.. aviation painting shops there are here in NZ... Totally understand what you mean about cost of running an airline especially this day and age, was just keen on wondering just how much costs towards repaints have gone up over the years, quite interesting to find out that in all reality, Australia is the closest fully licensed paint shop...
      Yeah that grey blue sceme looks dull, Gotta admit Steve it DIR does look smart.. and the former North Shore airlines blue dose looks smart to

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    7. A sun as on Air Chathams's CIC or Golden Bay Air would look good on Sunair

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    8. I thought Sounds Airs PC12s have only recently arrived from Australia, and got painted on there way here. Not really the same as being sent back there to be painted.

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  2. CV services from the Island to CHC could be connected with a link to Wanganui and on through to Auckland with it's metro covering the mainland routes. As pax grow CVs jumping in especially for one off events. Possibilities endless.

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  3. Don't think so Alec... Weekly direct flight to AKL; wice weekly during summer. Most would rather wait for direct flight than tack on an add on fare

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  4. Could this lead to a couple of summertime WAG-AKL DC-3 flights?

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  5. Doubt it... Flying along the Bay of Plenty coast in a DC-3 is more attractive than the higher crossing of the Central North Island

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  6. There is an article about air chathams in the Herald.. very in depth they are considering a few runs in the old girl... Guess you have to be more persific in regards to old girl and Air Chats haha lots of old girls

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    1. A lot of character in the old girls they all have interesting stories to tell.

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