Air New Zealand Link

Air New Zealand Link

IATA ICAO Callsign NZ NM NZ EAG NZM RLK EAGLE MOUNTCOOK LINK
Founded	1991[1]
Hubs	Auckland Christchurch Nelson Wellington
Frequent-flyer program	Airpoints
Airport lounge	Koru Club
Alliance	Star Alliance (affiliate)
Fleet size	58
Destinations	22
Parent company	Air New Zealand
Headquarters	"The Hub" Western Reclamation, Auckland City
Key people	Christopher Luxon, CEO Carrie Hurihanganui John Hambleton[2]
Website	www.airnewzealand.co.nz

Air New Zealand Link is a brand name under which three regional airlines operate feeder flights for Air New Zealand. They primarily connect regional centres with New Zealand's three main international airports.

History

Air New Zealand Link was formed as the brand name for regional services in 1991, covering the three airlines Air New Zealand had purchased interests in; Eagle Airways, Mount Cook Airline and Air Nelson.^[1] The three airlines were purchased as Air New Zealand found it not viable to operate its own regional services due to the introduction of new competition, Ansett New Zealand.^[3]

The airlines were purchased as below:

• Mount Cook Airline - Initial stake purchased by NAC in 1973, increased to 30% on 5 December 1983, then to 77% in October 1985, and finally 100% on 18 April 1991.
• Air Nelson - 50% stake purchased by Air New Zealand in October 1988, increased to 100% in 1995.^[4]
• Eagle Airways - 50% stake purchased by Air New Zealand in October 1988, which grew to 100% in 1995.^[3]

Fleet

As of 5 January 2016, Air New Zealand Link carriers have the following:

Airline	Aircraft	In Service	Orders	Options	Passengers	Gallery	Notes
Air Nelson	Bombardier DHC-8-Q300	23	-	-	50		[5]
Eagle Airways	Beechcraft 1900D	7	-	-	19		[6] Fleet operations gradually wound down completely by August 2016.
Mount Cook Airline	ATR 72-500	11	0	0	68		[7] An additional 15 ATR72-600s were ordered on 5th of November 2015, these will be replace the existing 11 ATR72-500s. Deliveries will start end of 2016.[8]
	ATR 72-600	11[9]	19[8]	1	68
Total		58	19	1

Eagle Airways flight operations to cease completely by August 2016 leaving just the Q300 and ATR72 family operating Link services.

Destinations

As of 27 November 2015, Air New Zealand Link flies to the following destinations:

Serviced by Air Nelson: Auckland Blenheim Christchurch Dunedin Gisborne Hamilton Hokitika Invercargill Kapiti Coast Kerikeri Napier Nelson New Plymouth Palmerston North Rotorua Taupo Tauranga Timaru Wanganui Wellington Whangarei

Serviced by Eagle Airways:[10] Gisborne (ends 31 July 2016) Hamilton (ends 26 August 2016) Palmerston North (ends 26 August 2016) Wellington (ends 26 August 2016)

Serviced by Mount Cook Airline: Auckland Blenheim (ends 30 October 2016)[11] Christchurch Dunedin Hamilton Invercargill Napier Nelson New Plymouth Palmerston North Tauranga Queenstown Rotorua Wellington

References

1. "Air Nelson Company Facts". Retrieved 19 October 2010.
2. "Air Nelson Company Structure" (PDF). Retrieved 19 October 2010.
3. "Eagle Airways History". Retrieved 19 October 2010.
4. "Company Facts". Air Nelson. Air Nelson. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
5. "Air Nelson Fleet". Retrieved 16 October 2010.
6. "Eagle Airways Fleet". Retrieved 10 December 2012.
7. "Air New Zealand Fleet".
8. "Air New Zealand buys 15 new planes for regional routes". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
9. Andre, Orban. "Air New Zealand receives its 7th ATR 72-600 at the Paris Air Show". Retrieved 18 June 2015.
10. "Eagle Airways Destinations". Retrieved 5 November 2012.
11. "Air New Zealand Domestic Network Changes from July 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 26 April 2016.