New Zealand News

The one aircraft airline’s profit exceeded its initial profit forecast of $NZ700,000 for its first 10 months of operation. Further, Kiwi believes the profit could have been $NZ500,000 higher if not for the 727 tyre blowout at Sydney which left the airline without an aircraft for 10 days in August last year. For the period, ticket sales grossed $NZ13.5m, $NZ2.5m higher than expectation. Over 50,000 passengers have flown with the airline since it commenced operations and staff numbers have grown from five before scheduled flights began to 155 in Australia and New Zealand.

Kiwi’s current aircraft is a 757 leased from UK charter operator Air 2000. Air 2000 is studying taking a 10% equity stake in the airline, ahead of Kiwi’s proposed public float this September. The float is expected to raise $NZ15 to 30 million. The capital raised from the float would allow the airline, among other things, to build a $NZ3m corporate headquarters close to Hamilton Airport.

At the time of writing, Kiwi was close to announcing new services to Melbourne and Perth, while later in the year it could begin services to Asia. A second aircraft is also being considered, possibly another 757, or an Airbus A320 or A310. Kiwi also has designs on the NZ domestic market, planning a no-frills shuttle between Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland (with half-hourly services at peak times) with Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. Domestic services are dependent on the NZ CAA, which maintains that Kiwi needs its own air service certificate (Kiwi flies international services with Air 2000’s ticket) before it can begin internal services.

Ansett/Air Nz Dealing Continues

Manoeuvring over Air New Zealand’s planned acquisition of Ansett continues, with TNT having notified the Australian Stock Exchange that it now intends selling Air New Zealand its 50% share in Ansett in one go (at Air New Zealand’s request), rather than the previously planned two-stage buyout. Air New Zealand is also believed to have significantly dropped its offer price for the 50% share.

Meanwhile, to allay the NZ Commerce Commission’s concerns about any Air New Zealand control in Ansett New Zealand (the previously proposed corporate ‘ring-fencing’ was rejected), News Corporation has proposed that it take 100% ownership of Ansett New Zealand to remove the airline from any Air New Zealand control or influence.

At the time of writing, the NZ Commerce Commission had yet to announce its decision on Air New Zealand/News’s revised plans concerning the future control of Ansett New Zealand. An announcement was due on April 3. (Refer Stop Press for any late-breaking news.)

Airways Wins Flight International Award

Flight International magazine has awarded Airways Corporation its Infrastructure Award as part of its Aerospace Industry Awards 1996.

Airways won the award for its implementation of the world’s first fully operational satellite-based oceanic traffic control system. Finalists for the award were Macau Airport and the US FAA for its work on ETOPS.

The independent panel of judges comprised President of the Royal Aeronautical Society Sir Donald Spiers, Mr Max Bleck, former president of Raytheon, Mr Boon Swan Foo, chairman of Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Mr Mike Ambrose, director general of the European Regional Airlines Association.

The award was presented at a dinner held in conjunction with Asian Aerospace in Singapore in February. Previously, Flight awarded Airways an infrastructure award in 1994.

New Cessnas For Flightline

Ardmore-based Flightline Aviation has ordered three new-build Cessnas, a 172, a 182 and a 206 direct from the factory. Flightline ordered a single example each of Cessna’s restarted piston-engined product line to get ahead of anticipated strong demand for the new models. “There are a lot of people interested in the new aircraft, so it was important that we placed an order to secure the earliest possible delivery slots for our customers,” said Flightline’s business development manager Brian Sutherland. Flightline’s 172 is planned for delivery in June 1997, while the 182 and 206 will both be delivered that December. The first new-build 172 is due to roll off Cessna’s new production line at Independence, Kansas, in December.

Meanwhile, Flightline has been awarded the European Joint Airworthiness Authorities 145 approval, enabling it to maintain all GA aircraft which operate under JAA jurisdiction. It is the only GA company in Australasia to be awarded such certification.

Wigram Aviation Estate Established

Christchurch City Council has expressed its desire that the decommissioned Wigram RNZAF base continue to be used for aviation activities, establishing the Wigram Aviation Estate and engaging aviation consultants Claremont Ferrand to study the project’s viability and seek expressions of interest from parties wishing to lease all or part of Wigram’s facilities.

Under the name Wigram Aviation Estate, Wigram and its associated facilities are being offered on a leasehold basis to New Zealand and overseas interests.

Wigram is situated on 200 hectares of land and features a 1580-metre sealed runway, control tower, four hangars, briefing and planning rooms, engineering workshops, classrooms and student accommodation.

Aviation activities identified as most suitable for Wigram include flight training, tertiary or technical education, aircraft component manufacture, aircraft maintenance and recreational aviation.

Briefs

Air New Zealand was scheduled to drop direct services to Adelaide from April 3. The city was served once a week.

Cathay Pacific has signed a code-sharing deal with Ansett New Zealand for flights from Christchurch which connect with the Hong Kong-based carrier’s international services out of Auckland. Ansett NZ has previously signed code-sharing arrangements with Malaysia Airlines and United.

Wing Commander Robert Maxwell McKay AFC OBE who flew the first jet aircraft in New Zealand died in Wellington.

Travel Weekly magazine’s readers have voted Air New Zealand as their best airline in the Pacific in the 1996 Travel Weekly Globe Awards. The airline won the award for the third year in succession ahead of Qantas, Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Singapore Airlines.

Mount Cook Airline is planning scenic flights over the Mount Cook area for the first time using two BK 117 helicopters.

Qantas has delayed its plans to link Auckland with Cairns with direct flights until mid-July due to capacity demands on the Qantas fleet. This pressure will be eased mid-year with the delivery of two new Boeing 767-300s.

Air Caledonie has withdrawn its weekly Papeete/Auckland service citing that the carrier’s resources were needed elsewhere.

Air Pacific has appointed Victor Sharan as its New Zealand regional manager.

Indonesia’s Merpati has contracted Flightline Aeronautical College to train a further five cadet pilots up to Boeing 737 type rating (in conjunction with Air New Zealand). Flightline has trained over 100 pilots for Merpati in recent years.

Auckland International Airport has ordered a hovercraft for its rescue firefighting service, following successful hovercraft trials last year.

Nicole Goodwin became New Zealand’s youngest CPL licence holder at just 18 years of age. Nicole began learning to fly last year at the Nelson Aviation College in Motueka and has since logged over 200 hours.

First class on Air New Zealand’s four 747-200s is being removed, in preference for eight extra business class seats. The reconfigured 32-seat business class cabin will feature increased seating pitch. First class will be retained on the long-haul 747-400s.

Pacific Aerospace (PAC) has delivered its first new Cresco ag aircraft in more than two years, with firm orders held for seven more aircraft. Hamilton Aerospace-owned PAC is also making its first profits in eight years.