Air New Zealand Link was a brand name under which Air New Zealand's subsidiary regional airlines operated flights. They primarily connected regional centres with New Zealand's three main international airports, Auckland Airport, Wellington International Airport, and Christchurch International Airport. The regional airlines have since been combined with their parent Air New Zealand. They were Mount Cook Airline, Air Nelson and Eagle Airways.
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. 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.
The airlines were purchased as below: Mount Cook Airline: Initial stake purchased by NAC in 1973, increased to 30% on 5 December 1983, 77% in October 1985, and 100% on 18 April 1991. Its operations ended in 2019. Air Nelson: 50% stake purchased by Air New Zealand in October 1988, increased to 100% in 1995. Its operations ended in 2019. Eagle Airways: 50% stake purchased by Air New Zealand in October 1988, which increased to 100% in 1995. Its operations ended in 2016.
Fleet
As of 30 April 2019 the Air New Zealand Link carriers operated the following aircraft. AirlineAircraftNumber in serviceOrdersPassenger seatsNotesAir NelsonDe Havilland Canada Dash 8-30023 -50Mount Cook AirlineATR 72-5007 -68ATR 72-60022768Total527
Destinations
As of June 2019 Air New Zealand Link flies to the following destinations. CityIATAICAOAirportMt CookNelson Auckland AKL NZAA Auckland Airport Blenheim BHE NZWB Woodbourne Airport Christchurch CHC NZCH Christchurch Airport Dunedin DUD NZDN Dunedin Airport Gisborne GIS NZGS Gisborne Airport Hamilton HLZ NZHN Hamilton Airport Hokitika HKK NZHK Hokitika Airport Invercargill IVC NZNV Invercargill Airport Kerikeri KKE NZKK Kerikeri Airport Napier NPE NZNR Hawke's Bay Airport Nelson NSN NZNS Nelson Airport New Plymouth NPL NZNP New Plymouth Airport Palmerston North PMR NZPM Palmerston North Airport Queenstown ZQN NZQN Queenstown Airport Rotorua ROT NZRO Rotorua Regional Airport Taupō TUO NZAP Taupo Airport Tauranga TRG NZTG Tauranga Airport Timaru TIU NZTU Richard Pearse Airport Wellington WLG NZWN Wellington Airport Whangārei WRE NZWR Whangarei Airport
Accidents and incidents
On 29 March 1995, Eagle Airways Flight 2337, a Beechcraft Queen Air Excalibu from Hamilton to New Plymouth, crashed shortly after takeoff after both engines failed, killing all 6 occupants onboard. The flight was operated by Kiwi West Aviation on contract to Eagle Airways for Air New Zealand. On 18 June 2007, Eagle Airways Flight 2300, a Beechcraft 1900D from Timaru to Wellington registered ZK-EAK, suffered a landing gear failure, and belly landed at Woodbourne Airport in Blenheim. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but all 17 occupants survived. On 8 February 2008, a woman attempted to hijack Eagle Airways Flight 2279, a British Aerospace Jetstream from Blenheim to Christchurch, New Zealand. The woman stated she had a bomb on board. Both pilots and one passenger suffered stab injuries. The aircraft landed safely and the woman was arrested. There were no injuries to the other passengers on board.
References