Kiwi Regional Airlines

Kiwi Regional Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
KRL REGIONAL
Founded 2014
Commenced operations 27 October 2015
Operating bases Dunedin International Airport
Fleet size 1
Destinations 4
Company slogan Your region, Your airline.
Headquarters Hamilton, New Zealand
Key people
  • Ewan Wilson (Chief Executive)
Website flykiwiair.co.nz/

Kiwi Regional Airlines is an airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand. It was founded in 2014 by local businessman Ewan Wilson, who previously served as the CEO of Kiwi Travel International Airlines, and commenced operations on 27 October 2015.[1] The airline initially operates a single Saab 340A aircraft and plans to add a second aircraft to the fleet within twelve months. The initial destinations served were Hamilton, Nelson, Dunedin and Queenstown.

History

Kiwi Regional Airlines was founded in 2014 by Ewan Wilson, who had previously served as the CEO of Kiwi Travel International Airlines between 1994 and 1996. In February 2015 the airline revealed its proposed route network, planning to serve Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, Queenstown and Dunedin.[2] The airline intended to serve Auckland using RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai, part of which had served as the main commercial airport for Auckland until 1965 before becoming solely a military airfield. However, the government rejected the airline's plans to operate commercial flights from the base, citing a 2009 decision for it to remain as a military-only airfield due to concerns from local residents about noise.[3]

On 24 June 2015, Kiwi Regional Airlines released an amended route network, which would see it initially serve four destinations using a single aircraft, with flights planned to commence on 27 September 2015. The airline also announced plans to begin operating a second aircraft and introduce new routes within 12 months.[4] In July the company acquired its first aircraft[5] and in August the planned date for commencement of services was changed to 27 October.[6] Kiwi Regional received its air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand on 23 October 2015.[7] Its first flight from Dunedin to Queenstown operated on 27 October 2015,[8] and flights between Dunedin and Nelson and Nelson and Hamilton began on 28 October 2015.[9]

In November 2015, less than one month after commencing flights between Queenstown and Dunedin, the company announced it would be ceasing the flights with "low passenger bookings making it unsustainable for this service to continue."[10] The airline considered expanding to either Tauranga or Napier.[11] In December 2015 Kiwi Regional announced that flights between Nelson and Tauranga would commence on 15 February 2016.[12]

Destinations

Map of destinations flown to by Kiwi Regional Airlines, with current destinations shown in green and former destinations shown in red
Destination Country IATA ICAO Airport Start End Status Ref.
Dunedin New ZealandDUDNZDNDunedin Airport 28 October 2015 N/A Current destination [9]
Hamilton New ZealandHLZNZHNHamilton Airport 28 October 2015 N/A Current destination [9]
Nelson New ZealandNSNNZNSNelson Airport 28 October 2015 N/A Current destination [9]
Queenstown New Zealand ZQN NZQN Queenstown Airport 27 October 2015 30 November 2015 Terminated[10]
Tauranga New ZealandTRGNZTGTauranga Airport 15 February 2016 N/A Current destination [12]

Prospective

Both Invercargill and Rotorua have also been outlined as potential future destinations.[13] In October 2015, the airline entered into talks with Te Anau Airport and stated that it is interested in serving the destination in the future.[14]

Fleet

The airline operates a single 34-seat Saab 340A,[15] which is based at Dunedin International Airport.

References

  1. ↑ Thomas, Rachel. "Kiwi Regional Airlines names start date and routes". Stuff. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Henson, Narelle. "Kiwi Regional Airlines set to fly - yet again". Stuff. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. ↑ Akoorie, Natalie; Feek, Belinda. "Government nixes airline's Whenuapai-Wellington plan". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "KIWI Regional Airlines has announced the routes it will fly with its first aircraft". Kiwi Regional Airlines. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Henson, Narelle. "Kiwi Regional Airlines buys plane". Stuff. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Kiwi Regional Airlines". Kiwi Regional Airlines. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "2 Cheap Cars to sell 10% stake in Kiwi Regional Airlines". The New Zealand Herald. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Anthony, John (28 October 2015). "Kiwi Regional Airlines cancels flight, eyes second plane". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Pullar, Jess (29 October 2015). "Kiwi Regional Airlines not worried about having one plane, CEO Ewan Wilson says". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016.
  10. 1 2 Anthony, John (24 November 2015). "Kiwi Regional Air axes Queenstown to Dunedin flights". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Anthony, John (25 November 2015). "Kiwi Regional Airlines tossing up Tauranga and Napier flights". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016.
  12. 1 2 "New flights announced for Tauranga". Bay of Plenty Times. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Kiwi REGIONAL Airlines – still the best bet for regional direct flights!". Kiwi Regional Airlines. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Woolf, Amber-Leigh. "Te Anau Airport in talks with Kiwi Regional Airlines". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Airline prepares for take off". Stuff. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
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