Air Chathams Flights Returns 1 September 2022

On Thursday this week, Air Chathams return flights Auckland to Norfolk Island recommenced on 1 September 2022. The community were invited to gather at the Norfolk Island airport runway to welcome the New Zealand visitors and the Air Chathams crew flying the Saab 340 turbo-prop aircraft back to Norfolk Island.

It is exciting to have a direct link with New Zealand after the rollercoaster ride of Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020. During the pandemic there was a brief period of flights until the New Zealand travel bubble closed as we all waited for the return of this fabulous direct weekly service, Auckland to Norfolk Island.

The service has commenced with weekly flights on Thursday and this service is scheduled to add an additional weekly flight on Monday as from 5 December 2022, which will be welcome for the summer months and Christmas holidays.

If you wish to book a seat on the 36-seater Air Chathams service, follow the links below and check out the details. The flights booking will go quick, so get in early to enjoy a holiday on Norfolk Island or if you wish to holiday in New Zealand or catch up with family and friends in Kiwiland, I know many will feel like myself and look forward to seeing loved ones after so long apart.

It is fantastic to once again have a weekly direct link with New Zealand. Many New Zealand tourist have enjoyed visiting Norfolk Island for many years for holidays, attending music and sporting events and visiting family and friends. Also, many New Zealanders live on Norfolk Island, and it is great news to know there is now a direct weekly flight to Auckland, as in recent years the only way to travel to New Zealand was to journey via Sydney or Brisbane, using the passenger flights, incurring addition flights, travelling time and travel cost.

Air New Zealand passenger flight service from Auckland to Norfolk Island stopped in May 2017 and Norfolk Island Airline provided the passenger and freight services until January 2018. Air Chathams Norfolk Island passenger flights commenced on 6 September 2019, and it is wonderful to have them recommence their commercial Norfolk Island flights again. Congratulations Air Chathams for the Pacific Island flight service.

https://www.airchathams.co.nz/destinations/norfolk-island?fbclid=IwAR1EJwRltgsNLB-ZT-rkZr69CgO87pqFyWmuDqeEyTo3C5Xy5IeYFN5HM6U

Norfolk Island

Norfolk flights will resume direct from Auckland every Thursday from the 1st of September and then every Monday and Thursday from the 5th of December.

Norfolk Island is a South Pacific paradise full of stories, activity and character. It has a unique history and community now enjoyed in modern life with its beautiful landscapes, impressive diversity and refreshing authenticity.

https://www.airchathams.co.nz/our-story/fleet/saab340

Saab 340, Our Swedish princess

Air Chathams has 3 Saab 340's turbo-prop aircraft on duty in the airline, ZK-KRA, ZK-CIY and ZK-CIZ. Widely used by commuter airlines around the world, the

Saab 340 is an excellent fit for New Zealand conditions. A comfortable and spacious cabin for up to 36 passengers, the Saab is renowned for its performance and reliability. The aircraft is crewed by two pilots and one flight attendant with galley facilities for food and beverage preparation in flight. Air Chathams Saab 340's are mainly used on the Auckland to Whanganui and Auckland to Kāpiti Coast passenger schedules.

Aircraft Specifications

Speed	470 kilometres per hour
Max Altitude	25,000 feet
Pressurised Cabin	Yes
No. of Pilots	2
No. of Flight Attendants	1
No. of Seats	Up to 36
Inflight Catering	Available
Toilet	Yes

Air Chathams Ltd is a private company and they are based in Te One, the Chatham Islands, and flies from the Tuuta Airport which is about 1000km from Auckland. The company was established in 1984 and for over thirty years has operated passenger and freight services between the Chatham Islands and New Zealand, along with internal flights from Whakatane and Whanganui to Auckland, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, and Christchurch. Check out the company’s web page for details. Pitt Island is also listed, which is the second largest island in the Chatham Archipelago. Air Chathams has grown into a reliable and safe airline that supports the transportation of both freight and people to and from mainland New Zealand.

Marion and Craig Emeny are Air Chathams Ltd Founders/Owners - CFO & CEO. Craig and Marion are as much a part of the business, airline and crew as anyone else on the team. Craig regularly flies a number of our routes and Marion can usually be found in the Chatham Islands Office at Te One looking after our accounts. Not just pilot and office administrator, they are both integral to the management and support of staff both on the Chathams Islands and in mainland New Zealand.

If you would like to read more information about Air Chathams and the Norfolk Island service, or to book flights please follow the links or follow their Facebook page.

https://www.airchathams.co.nz/destinations/norfolk-island

https://www.facebook.com/airchathams

On Thursday I managed to capture a photo of the Air Chatham flight when it departed Norfolk Island and flew over Kingston. Plus, here are some images from previous visits to Norfolk Island and a photo of a Saab 940 from the Air Chatham web page link.

Betty Matthews

September 2022