 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 1986 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating bases | Wellington International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 10 | ||||||
| Destinations | 9 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Blenheim, New Zealand | ||||||
| Key people | Cliff Marchant (Founder), Andrew Crawford (Chief Executive/Director), Rhyan Wardman (Chairman, Director), Steve Handyside (Director), Simon Craddock (Director) | ||||||
| Website | soundsair | ||||||
Sounds Air is a New Zealand airline based in Marlborough.[2] The airline was founded in 1986 by Cliff and Diane Marchant to provide low cost flights to the Marlborough Sounds.[3] The airline's head office as well as it's Sounds Aero Maintenance division is based at Omaka aerodrome.[4]
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History
From a single Cessna Caravan operating one route across the Cook Strait, Sounds Air has grown in 30 years; the airline carried 78,000 passengers in 2015, compared to 14,000 passengers in 2003. In 2008 the airline set up its own maintenance division as the airline could not find a company suitable to maintain its fleet.[5] In 2017, Sounds Air signalled that they were looking at buying twin engine planes for the first time: up to three 19-seater Beech 1900 aircraft to support extra demand for the Blenheim to Christchurch route.[6]
Services
Sounds Air operates scheduled flights between Wellington and Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Taupō and Westport.[7][8] Scheduled flights are also available between Blenheim and Christchurch,[9][10]Wānaka and Paraparaumu. Nelson also has flights to Paraparaumu.[11] Sounds Air formerly served Kaikoura, Napier and Whanganui[12] from Wellington, Napier from Blenheim and Kāpiti Coast from Picton.[13] A service to Masterton was being considered from Wellington, however no such service eventuated, because the town wanted the link to Auckland reinstated instead.[14] In addition to scheduled flights Sounds Air offers scenic flights over the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park.[15] The airline started temporary services to Kaikoura from Christchurch and Blenheim on 21 November 2016 following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.[16] The Kaikoura to Christchurch flights ceased from 27 January 2017[17] followed by the Blenheim flights on 29 December 2017. From this date onwards Kaikoura will become a charter route only.[18] Sounds Air commenced Christchurch to Wānaka another former Air New Zealand route on 2 November 2020.[19]
Destinations
Sounds Air operates scheduled services to the following destinations within New Zealand:
| City | IATA | Airport | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blenheim | BHE | Woodbourne Airport | Current |
| Christchurch | CHC | Christchurch International Airport | Current |
| Kaikōura | KBZ | Kaikoura Airport | Terminated |
| Napier | NPE | Hawke's Bay Airport[20] | Terminated |
| Nelson | NSN | Nelson Airport | Current |
| Paraparaumu | PPQ | Kapiti Coast Airport | Current |
| Picton | PCN | Picton Aerodrome | Current |
| Taupō | TUO | Taupō Airport | Current |
| Wānaka | WKA | Wānaka Airport | Current[19] |
| Wellington | WLG | Wellington International Airport | Current |
| Westport | WSZ | Westport Airport | Current |
| Whanganui | WAG | Whanganui Airport | Terminated |
Fleet
As of May 2024 the Sounds Air fleet consists of ten aircraft.[21] 6 Pilatus PC-12's which are a pressurized, single-engined, turboprop aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Stans, Switzerland since 1991. It was designed as a high-performance utility aircraft powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop. They incorporate a large aft cargo door in addition to the main passenger door. It is configured in a 9 seat commuter configuration with 1-1 arrangement. And 4 Cessna 208 Caravan's which are strutted, high wing aircraft with an unpressurized cabin. They are powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A tractor turboprop and have a fixed tricycle landing gear. 2 of the 4 are 208's which seat 12 people in a 1-2 configuration with a 2 person bench seat in the aft section. The 2 others are the stretched 208B's which seat 13 people in a 1-2 configuration.
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers (Economy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 208 Caravan | 4
|
12 | |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 6
|
9[5] | |
| Total | 10 |
Future
On 28 September 2020, the airline signed a letter of intent to Swedish company Heart Aerospace to purchase their ES-19 electric aircraft once it comes available, scheduled for 2026. The airline hopes the ES-19 will be able to make them the first regional airline to offer Zero-emissions flights.[22] In 2022 this was upgraded to the ES-30.[23]
Accidents and incidents
- On 19 March 1989 Britten Norman BN2A Islander, ZK-SFE, while attempting to land at Tiraora Lodge struck a telephone wire and descended into the sea. The pilot and five passengers were rescued but suffered varying degrees of injury.[24]
- On 29 January 1996 Cessna 208 Caravan, ZK-SFA, crashed into the eastern slopes of Mount Robertson on approach to Picton Aerodrome at Koromiko after a flight from Wellington. All five passengers were killed, but the pilot survived.[25]
References
- ^ a b Not an ICAO allocation – issued for domestic use by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
- ^ "Airline schedules more Nelson flights". The Nelson Mail. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
- ^ "Sounds Air » Company background". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ^ Ltd, Beacon Hill Design. "Sounds Aero Maintenance » Marlborough based aircraft maintenance". www.soundsaero.co.nz.
- ^ a b Lewis, Oliver. "Charting its own course: Marlborough airline Sounds Air is flying high in the cut-throat world of aviation". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ "Larger planes between Christchurch and Blenheim could return early next year". Stuff .co.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ L, Steve (21 January 2015). "3rd Level New Zealand: Exciting News for Sounds Air and Westport".
- ^ "Regional routes rise again". Stuff. 13 March 2015.
- ^ "Sounds Air to replace Air NZ on Christchurch to Blenheim route". Stuff.co.nz. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Wine flights on track for November". Stuff. 29 September 2015.
- ^ "Timetables". Sounds Air. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
- ^ "Airline cans Wellington service". Wanganui Chronicle. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ L, Steve (23 December 2013). "3rd Level New Zealand: A lovely day in Kaikoura".
- ^ "Sounds Air looks at landing Wairarapa deal". Stuff. 13 September 2013.
- ^ "Sounds Air » Scenic Flights". Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ "Sounds Air starts special flights to quake-hit Kaikoura". Newshub. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Sounds Air". www.facebook.com.
- ^ L, Steve (22 December 2017). "3rd Level New Zealand: Kaikoura Flights to End".
- ^ a b "Sounds Air confirms November start date for Christchurch to Wanaka service". Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Planes going one way empty': Sounds Air cut Napier to Blenheim service". Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ "Sounds Air Fleet & Planes - Sounds Air".
- ^ "Sounds Air aims to offer first regional zero-emission flights". Radio New Zealand. 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Heart highlights customer acceptance of switch to 30-seater".
- ^ "Aviation Reports". TAIC. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ "Aviation Reports". TAIC. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
External links
Media related to Sounds Air at Wikimedia Commons
This page was last edited on 24 June 2024, at 02:30