Jetting into Tonga

On Monday I flew into Tonga for a few days to catch up on friends...

My ride to Tonga - Air New Zealand Airbus 320 ZK-OJB on 6 August 2018

Delighted to get Real Tonga's Saab 340 A3-PUA taxiing at Fua'amotu on 6 August 2018

A couple of desperation shots - Real Tonga's Britten Norman Islander A3-PAS at at Fua'amotu on 6 August 2018...

and a heat haze photo of Real Tonga's HarbinnY-12 A3-PSV at Fua'amotu on 6 August 2018 

A long way from home -  Maltese registered Bombardier Global 6000-BD-700 9H-IGH at Fua'amotu on 6 August 2018

Air Chathams' Photo Update

With the Southern Motorway into Auckland being a massive and ongoing traffic jam I tend to avoid going to Auckland so when I drove up on Sunday and flew out on Monday I was delighted to catch up on some of the Air Chathams fleet

Convair 580 ZK-KFL featuring a Hopo” or “Toroa” - the Chatham Islands Albatross - at Auckland on 5 August 2018.
An annoying blue shed hides the rego!

Convair 580 ZK-KFL at Auckland on 5 August 2018

Fairchild Metro 23 ZK-POF off to Whakatane on 6 August 2018

Saab 340 ZK-CIZ off to Whanganui on 6 August 2018

Damp Day Fails to Dampen Enthusiasm for Kapiti Coast Air Services

Many thanks to Wes from Paraparaumu Beach who sent in these pics from the Kapiti Coast Airport open day on Sunday aheead of Air Chathams' launch of services. Wes writes...

Not sure if you or any of your other contributors were at the Open-day at PPQ today or not, but in case you don't get any other pics I thought I'd send some rough snaps through. Apologies for the average quality; they were only taken on my phone. 

The event got a great roll-up from what I saw! I was there fairly late in the day - well after the peak visitors if the car parking around the streets was anything to go by - and there were still loads of people wandering around. The weather wasn't great either, which makes the attendance even more impressive. Along with the decent levels of forward bookings for the new PPQ-AKL service, this seems to be a good demonstration that Air NZ's cancelation wasn't due to lack of community support. 

Great little expo of NZ's smaller players!

Air Chathams' classic DC-3 was doing joyrides around the Kapiti area

air2there are using Originair's Jetstreams to maintain their services from Paraparaumu to Nelson and Blenheim at present. air2there's schedule seems to have been drastically reduced.

The new player on the block... Air Chathams Saab 340 ZK-KRA was obviously creating a lot of interest.

Sounds Air also operate flights from Paraparaumu to both Blenheim and Nelson. Pilatus PC12 ZK-PLS (pictured) and Cessna Caravan ZK-PDM were both on display

 

Some thoughts on Originair's new Routes

I wish Originair good luck on its new services to Napier and I suspect it will need it. The two new routes being offered were once offered by Air Central (see : http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2013/11/air-central-north-island-commuter.html) which used Cessna 402s and Mitsubishi Mu2s on these routes. Originair's new routes, along with Air New Zealand's Hamilton-Palmerston North service will be the only inter regional flights being offered in the central North Island. 

Air Central's New Plymouth-Napier route was offered only for a short time and didn't seem to garner much support.

The Palmerston North-Napier Air Central run was part of the Gisborne-Napier-Palmerston North-New Plymouth route with a morning southbound service between Napier and Palmerston North and afternoon return enabling business traffic. 

Originair's timetable between New Plymouth and Napier is seeking weekend traffic and so that might pick up some traffic. I suspect the Napier-Palmerston North route is unlikely to pick up much traffic on Mondays given no same day return business traffic is possible. Wednesday's timetable maybe better suited for same day return traffic from Palmerston North. Both routes are add ons to flights from Nelson but flying sectors not generating much traffic is not away for services to last.

The Jetstream is an 18 seater so it will take some filling. Personally I would have thought Nelson-Napier direct would have been more viable. Time will tell over the next few months. 

If I was Originair I think I would be going back to what Air New Zealand operated with Beech 1900s, early morning (i.e. 7.00am) departure and return on the Nelson-Palmerston North route and the same late afternoon. From all accounts that schedule was doing well. With that as the bread and butter route I'd fit in Napier and New Plymouth flights around these. But then again I'm just an arm chair commentator!

Originair expansion to Napier

A Nelson-based airline is introducing new direct flights from Napier to New Plymouth and Palmerston North. Originair announced on Friday it would start the services from September 28. They included direct flights from Napier to New Plymouth and Palmerston North, and flights from Napier via those cities to Nelson. Managing director Robert Inglis said adding services to Hawke's Bay was a natural extension. The company appreciated the passenger support received to date and whilst these services are not extensive, they do offer Hawke's Bay travellers another choice." Hawke's Bay Airport chief executive Stuart Ainslie said it was pleased to welcome Originair to Napier. "It's important to us that we work with airline partners to grow regional connectivity across the domestic network offering more choice and flexibility." The airline would operate direct flights from Napier to New Plymouth at 4pm each Friday and Sunday. Flights from New Plymouth to Napier would also depart on those days at 2.10pm. Those flights would also connect onto the airline's New Plymouth flights direct to Nelson, at 5.20pm. Flights would also operate direct from Napier to Palmerston North at 11.10am on Mondays and 4pm on Wednesdays.

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/105997813/airline-to-launch-direct-flights-between-napier-new-plymouth-and-palmerston-north

Originair to Introduce Flights from Napier to New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson from 28th September 2018.

Originair are pleased to announce the introduction of the beautiful Hawke's Bay region to our network of destinations, beginning from 28th September 2018. Napier/Hastings will immediately be able to access the full range of our current network with direct flights to New Plymouth and Palmerston North and via these cities onto Nelson.

New Plymouth - Napier

“The airline has been asked to operate this direct service since we commenced operations to New Plymouth last September and will commence this service extension from September 28th this year” the airlines Managing Director, Robert Inglis said. The service will operate on Friday and Sunday afternoons to allow weekend travelers an easy option when visiting the Hawke’s Bay region. The airline could also add further flights during the week to cater for the business market dependent on demand.

Schedule

These flights will operate on Friday and Sunday from New Plymouth at 2:10pm and depart from Napier to New Plymouth at 4:00pm.

Friday & Sunday
Depart NPL: 2:10pm - Arrive NPE: 3:00pm
Depart NPE: 4:00pm - Arrive NPL: 4:50pm

Palmerston North - Napier

Originair will introduce direct return flights from Palmerston North to Napier each Monday and Wednesday, commencing on 1st October 2018. The airlines Marketing Manager, Holly Parata, said “With the Manawatu Gorge road now closed and the Saddle Hill road construction likely to cause travel delays in the next few years, a range of travelers will find this service beneficial”.

Schedule

These flights will offer business travelers a Monday morning flight to and from Napier and over five hours in the Hawke’s Bay region each Wednesday with a 9:40am departure, returning to Palmerston North at 4:30pm.

Monday
Depart PMR: 9:40am - Arrive NPE: 10:20am
Depart NPE: 11:10am - Arrive PMR: 11:50am

Wednesday
Depart PMR: 9:40am - Arrive NPE: 10:20am
Depart NPE: 4:00pm - Arrive PMR: 4:40pm

Nelson - Napier

Originair will extend the services it currently operates from Nelson to Palmerston North and New Plymouth onto Napier.

Initially these services to Napier will operate via Palmerston North on Mondays and Wednesdays and via New Plymouth on Fridays and Sundays. The airlines Managing Director, Robert Inglis, said “whilst this was not an extensive service he hoped travelers would enjoy another choice”. The airlines direct weekend services to New Plymouth will continue with some flight time changes that the airline believes travelers will appreciate as they offer further time in New Plymouth for a full weekend away. These Friday and Sunday services will now depart New Plymouth for Nelson at 5:20pm. The airlines marketing Manager, Holly Parata, says that “a further positive change from this new schedule is that it allows Nelson travelers a full business day in Palmerston North with its 9:10am arrival and 5:00pm departure on Wednesdays. We have seen steady growth in the business market supporting our direct services. The schedule changes and Hawke’s bay introduction now offer our travelers even more choice”.

Schedule

The weekday services via Palmerston North will offer business travelers further flight options to Hawke’s Bay. Services will run Monday and Wednesday mornings with scheduled Monday morning and Wednesday evening return flight options.

Monday
Depart NSN: 8:20am - Arrive NPE: 10:20am
Depart NPE: 11:10am - Arrive NSN: 1:10pm

Wednesday
Depart NSN: 8:20am - Arrive NPE: 10:20am
Depart NPE: 4:00pm  - Arrive NSN: 5:50pm

The Napier service on Friday and Sunday will be via New Plymouth as part of a new direct service being introduced between Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay for the weekend travel market.

Friday & Sunday
Depart NSN: 12:40pm - Arrive NPE: 3:00pm
Depart NPE: 4:00pm  - Arrive NSN: 6:20pm

Source : https://mailchi.mp/originair/explore-nelson-for-a-weekend-getaway-1005813

Napier's busy Hawkes Bay Airport

Demand for flights between Hawke's Bay and Auckland will see Air New Zealand put on an extra 12 one-way flights between the centres from the end of October. The new service to be operated over the summer period by the airline's 50-seat Q300 aircraft will depart Auckland at 5:50pm with the aircraft overnighting at Hawke's Bay Airport and returning to Auckland at 7:15am. Air New Zealand regional affairs manager Ian Collier said the additional flights came in response to growing demand from business travellers. "It's great to be able to meet the needs of businesses, with the additional flights offering those travelling from Hawke's Bay the option of three services to Auckland before 8:30am and customers heading to Hawke's Bay three flight options after 5pm," he said. The new flights, commencing on October 28 will see a 7.15am flight from Napier to Auckland, Monday to Saturday, and a 5.50pm flight from Auckland on Sunday to Friday.

Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/105959847/increased-demand-sees-air-new-zealand-put-on-extra-flights-between-hawkes-bay-and-auckland?cid=facebook.post.105959847


Napier is increasingly becoming a busy airport. From the 28th of October the scheduled movements FROM Napier are as follows

To Auckland with Air New Zealand
Mondays and Tuesdays - 10 flights
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays - 11 flights
Saturdays and Sundays - 9 flights
All these flights are operated by ATR 72s with the exception of the new Q300 flight which operates Monday to Saturday. 

To Auckland with Jetstar
Sunday to Friday - 4 flights
Saturdays - 3 flights

All these flights are operated with Q300s 

To Christchurch with Air New Zealand
Mondays and Tuesdays - 2 flights
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays - 3 flights
Saturdays and Sundays - 2 flights
All these flights are operated by ATR 72s.

To Wellington with Air New Zealand 
Mondays and Tuesdays - 4 flights
Wednesdays to Fridays - 5 flights
Saturdays and Sundays - 3 flights
All these flights are operated with Q300s with the exception of one ATR flight which operates  Monday to Saturday.

To Blenheim with Sounds Air 
Tuesdays and Thursdays - 2 flight
Fridays and Sundays - 1 flight
These flights are operated with Pilatus PC12s.

To Gisborne with Air Napier
Tuesday to Saturday - 1 flight
This is a courier flight but seats may be available. The flight is operated with a Piper Navajo, Piper Seneca or a Piper Cherokee 6 depending on freight and whether there are passengers.

To Palmerston North and Nelson with Originair
Mondays and Wednesdays
All these flights are operated with Jetstreams.

To New Plymouth and Nelson with Originair
Fridays and Sundays
All these flights are operated with Jetstreams.

Queenstown Flight Boost for Summer

Jetstar will operate three additional flights a week between Queenstown and Auckland during the peak summer season. The flights will leave Auckland on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6pm. Their scheduled landing time in the resort will be 7.55pm. Return flights would depart Queenstown at 8.25pm, landing in Auckland at 10.15pm, between December 14 and January 14. The additional flights represented a 17% increase on the airline's Queenstown-Auckland route, from 17 return services a week to 20. Up to 17 weekly return services would operate between Queenstown and several Australian destinations. There will be seven each per week to Melbourne and Sydney, and three a week to the Gold Coast.

Source : https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/queenstown-summer-flights-boosted