Sunair
It operates scheduled services in the North Island. Headquartered in Tauranga, the airline flies to Hamilton, Rotorua, Gisborne, Ardmore, Whangarei, Whitianga and Great Barrier Island.[1] It also has charter and pilot training operations. Sunair has fifteen aircraft.[2]
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Founded | 1991 | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 2006 as Sunair | ||||||
Hubs | Tauranga Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 8 | ||||||
Destinations | 9 | ||||||
Headquarters | Tauranga, New Zealand | ||||||
Key people | Daniel Power (CEO) | ||||||
Website | www |
![](../I/VH-MTY_Piper_PA-23-250_Aztec_(10358717073).jpg.webp)
Sunair is an airline based in New Zealand.
History
Sunair initially started as a commuter operator to Motiti Island in the Bay of Plenty with one aircraft. The airline has flown for over 30 years and has a safe accident free record. It operates approximately 4000 flights per year with a staff of 28.[3]
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand withdrew Sunair's Air Operator Certificate, along with the Certificate of Airworthiness for the Sunair fleet, on September 8, 2017. No reason for the certificate withdrawal has been made public by the Authority. The airline remained inoperative while the matter was pursued by the authority.
Sunair remained grounded for 203[4] days and was finally granted permission to fly again in April 2018, by NZ CAA.
The first service resumed[4] in its own right was the doctor service between Whangarei and Kaitaia, which Sunair had been able to continue to operate using leased aircraft. Scheduled services were offered again from the 28th of May 2018 with flights being offered from Hamilton or Tauranga to Great Barrier Island or Whangarei, and from Great Barrier Island to Whitianga or Whangarei. The East Coast service has not been recommenced at this stage.
Destinations
As of March 2017 Sunair currently operates services from the following destinations:[5][6]
City | Airport | Notes |
---|---|---|
Auckland | Ardmore Airport | |
Auckland | Auckland Airport | Terminated |
Gisborne | Gisborne Airport | |
Great Barrier Island | Great Barrier Aerodrome | |
Hamilton | Hamilton Airport | Focus city |
Motiti Island | Motiti Island Aerodrome | Served on demand |
New Plymouth | New Plymouth Airport | Terminated |
North Shore | North Shore Aerodrome | |
Palmerston North | Palmerston North Airport | Terminated |
Rotorua | Rotorua Regional Airport | |
Tauranga | Tauranga Airport | Hub |
Whakatane | Whakatane Airport | Terminated |
Whangarei | Whangarei Airport | |
Whitianga | Whitianga Aerodrome | |
Fleet
As of April 2016 the Sunair fleet consists of the following light aircraft:[2][7]
References
- (PDF)
- "New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register". caa.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- "A Little History About Sunair". sunair.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016.
- L, Steve (13 February 2011). "3rd Level New Zealand: Sunair - Still Shining". 3rd Level New Zealand. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- "Sunair scheduled flights". sunair.co.nz. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- http://www.sunair.co.nz/images/Isse_56_Schedule_-_for_website.pdf
- Sunair Aviation pilotcareercentre.com, accessdate 21 September 2020