Originair

Last updated

Originair
Origin-logo-300x94-300x94.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
OG [1] OGN [2] ORIGIN [2]
FoundedMarch 2015
Commenced operations12 August 2015
Operating bases Nelson Airport
Fleet size4
Destinations5
Headquarters Nelson, New Zealand
Key people
  • Robert Inglis
Website originair.co.nz
Originair Jetstream at Christchurch Airport, December 2015 Originair J31 at Christchurch.jpg
Originair Jetstream at Christchurch Airport, December 2015

Originair is an airline based in Nelson, New Zealand, that operates domestic flights in New Zealand. It was founded in 2015 by local businessman Robert Inglis, who had previously founded Air Nelson and Origin Pacific Airways. Originair commenced operations on 12 August 2015 with flights between Nelson and Palmerston North; it started flights between Nelson and Wellington the following month. The airline began its operations with one British Aerospace Jetstream 31 aircraft, and now operates a fleet of four aircraft, following the addition of another 2 Jetstream 32 aircraft. [3]

Contents

History

Background

Nelson businessman Robert Inglis founded Air Nelson in 1979 with Nicki Smith. Air New Zealand purchased 50 per cent of the airline in October 1988, and the remaining share in 1996. Air Nelson operated as one of Air New Zealand's regional subsidiaries, operating turboprop aircraft on domestic routes under the Air New Zealand Link brand, until Air New Zealand announced it would merge Air Nelson and Mount Cook Airlines into its mainline fleet in 2019. Inglis and Smith subsequently founded Origin Pacific Airways in 1996, to provide regional flights around New Zealand. It had a code-share agreement with Qantas' New Zealand subsidiary Jetconnect between 2001 and 2004, allowing Origin Pacific's regional flights to connect with the larger airline's domestic and international routes. The termination of the code-share agreement resulted in Origin Pacific Airways losing 60% of its business, and it went into liquidation in 2006. [4]

Operation

In 2015, Inglis founded Originair in response to Air New Zealand's termination of direct flights between Nelson and Palmerston North. Flight operations were contracted out to Air Freight NZ although the aircraft were painted in Originair's livery. The airline commenced operations on 12 August 2015 when flights between Nelson and Palmerston North began. Flights between Nelson and Wellington began the following month on 13 September 2015.

In February 2016, issues with Air Freight NZ's operating certificate led to the grounding of the Jetstream aircraft by New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The issues were stated to be "very specific to the particular operation" of Originair. Originair briefly contracted another company, Airwork, to operate its flights using Metroliner aircraft, [5] although when this arrangement terminated at the end of March 2016, Originair temporarily ceased operations. [6]

In July 2016 the airline announced it had resolved most of its CAA issues and would resume flights in September 2016 under the operation and Air Operating Certificate of Inflite Charters. It was announced that flights would resume between Nelson and Palmerston North, which had lacked a direct flight while Originair's operations were suspended, but flights between Nelson and Wellington would not resume because the introduction of Jetstar Airways had made the route too competitive. [7]

On 23 September 2016, Originair recommenced regular scheduled services between Nelson and Palmerston North, with flights being operated by air2there using Cessna Grand Caravans and Piper Chieftains. [8] Flights with Originair's own aircraft resumed in June 2017. Originair added a new route from Nelson to New Plymouth on 29 September 2017. [8] Hawke's Bay Airport at Napier was added to their network from 28 September 2018. [9] [10] Flights to Wellington resumed on 14 February 2020. [11]

Flights to Napier resumed on 17 September 2021 and expanded services linked the city to Hamilton and Palmerston North for the first time. [12]

On April 10 2023 Originair quietly pulled out of Napier. 10 days later Originair took over an old Air New Zealand route- Wellington to Palmerston North.

Destinations

Originair operates scheduled services to the following destinations within New Zealand:

DestinationAirportStartEndStatus
Hamilton Hamilton Airport [13] 19 October 2020Current
Napier Napier Airport 28 September 2018
17 September 2021
29 November 2019
10 April 2023
Past
Nelson Nelson Airport 12 August 2015Current
New Plymouth New Plymouth Airport 29 September 201725 November 2019 [14] Past
Palmerston North Palmerston North Airport 12 August 2015Current
Wellington Wellington International Airport 13 September 2015
14 February 2020
31 March 2016Current

Originair also operates charter flights throughout New Zealand. [15]

Fleet

The Originair fleet consists of the following aircraft: [16]

Originair fleet
AircraftTotalOrdersPassengers
(Economy)
British Aerospace Jetstream 31
1
-
18
British Aerospace Jetstream 32
3
-
19
Total40

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom Air</span>

Freedom Air was a New Zealand low-cost airline which operated since 8 December 1995 to March 2008. It was part of the Air New Zealand Group which ran scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Australia and Fiji and charter services within New Zealand. Its main hub was Auckland Airport.

Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd, operating as Jetstar, is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by airline Virgin Australia. Jetstar is part of Qantas' two brand strategy of having Qantas Airways for the premium full-service market and Jetstar for the low-cost market. Jetstar carries 8.5% of all passengers travelling in and out of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christchurch Airport</span> Airport in Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch Airport is the main airport that serves Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the northwest of the city centre, in the suburb of Harewood. Christchurch (Harewood) Airport officially opened on 18 May 1940 and became New Zealand's first international airport on 16 December 1950. It is the third busiest airport in New Zealand, after Auckland and Wellington by annual passengers, and the second busiest, after Auckland, by aircraft movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Airport</span> Airport in Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington International Airport is an international airport located in the suburb of Rongotai in Wellington. It lies 3 NM or 5.5 km south-east from the city centre. It is a hub for Air New Zealand and Sounds Air. Wellington International Airport Limited, a joint venture between Infratil and the Wellington City Council, operates the airport. Wellington is the second busiest airport in New Zealand after Auckland, handling a total of 3,455,858 passengers in the year ending June 2022, and the third busiest in terms of aircraft movements. The airport, in addition to linking many New Zealand destinations with national and regional carriers, also has links to major cities in eastern Australia. It is the home of some smaller general aviation businesses, including the Wellington Aero Club, which operates from the general aviation area on the western side of the runway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Origin Pacific Airways</span> New Zealand airline

Origin Pacific Airways was an airline based in Nelson in New Zealand. Its main base was at Nelson Airport (NSN). It ceased passenger operations on 10 August 2006, and its residual freight operations on 15 September 2006.

Air Nelson was a regional airline based in Nelson, New Zealand. It was founded as an independent airline in 1979. Air New Zealand took a 50% shareholding in 1988 and 100% ownership in 1995. Air Nelson operated services on provincial routes under the Air New Zealand Link brand.

Air National was an airline based in Auckland, New Zealand. It operated domestic and international charter services and scheduled passenger services for Air New Zealand Link. Its main bases were Auckland International Airport

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle Airways</span> Regional airline in New Zealand

Eagle Airways was a regional airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand and was wholly owned by Air New Zealand, operating regional services under the Air New Zealand Link brand. The airline was disbanded on 26 August 2016, with staff absorbed into Air New Zealand's other subsidiaries.

Mount Cook Airline was a regional airline based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Formerly part of the Mount Cook Group and latterly a subsidiary of Air New Zealand, it operated scheduled services throughout the country under the Air New Zealand Link brand. In December 2019, the brand name was retired with all services operated under the Air New Zealand banner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmerston North Airport</span> Domestic airport in Milson, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Palmerston North Airport, originally called Milson Aerodrome, is an airport in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand, serving Palmerston North City and the Central North Island regions. It is located in the suburb of Milson, on the outskirts of Palmerston North, New Zealand, approximately 5.5 km (3.4ml) NE from the central business district of Palmerston North City. The airport is 100% owned by the Palmerston North City Council and covers an area of 208ha. The airport is New Zealand's 8th busiest and handled a total of 515,727 passengers in the 2016 financial year. The airport handles around 30 commercial passenger flights per day to and from Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson as well as cargo flights on week nights between Auckland and Christchurch.

air2there was an airline based in New Zealand. It began service in 2004, and was based at Kapiti Coast Airport, 60 km north of Wellington. It operated scheduled services across Cook Strait. Charter services to other New Zealand destinations were also available. Aero-medical flights were conducted from Wellington Airport using twin turbo prop aircraft. As of November 2018, air2there has not flown since June, and applications to liquidate the airline have been filed. The airline's Cessna Grand Caravan is up for sale

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sounds Air</span> New Zealand airline

Sounds Air is a New Zealand airline based at Picton. The airline was founded in 1986 by Cliff and Diane Marchant to provide low cost flights to the Marlborough Sounds. The airline has a maintenance facility at Omaka aerodrome with its Sounds Aero Maintenance division based there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tauranga Airport</span> Airport in Tauranga

Tauranga Airport is an airport serving the city of Tauranga, New Zealand. It is located adjacent to Tauranga Harbour in the suburb of Mount Maunganui, approximately 3 km northeast of Tauranga CBD. The terminal is located to the north of the runway, on Jean Batten Drive, and consists of a two-storey building with four tarmac gates. Air New Zealand serves the airport through its subsidiaries Mount Cook Airline and Air Nelson, with flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. A further two regional airlines also operate to the airport, as well as scenic and charter flights, skydiving operations and general aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Plymouth Airport</span> Airport in New Plymouth

New Plymouth Airport serves the city of New Plymouth, and the surrounding region of Taranaki. It is located on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island and is 11 km from the city centre, on State Highway 3 north to Auckland, and 4 km from the outer suburb/satellite town of Bell Block.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Aviation</span> 1992–2014 airline in New Zealand

Vincent Aviation was an airline based in Wellington, New Zealand. It operated air charter, freight and subcontract flights with a hub at Wellington International Airport. It was founded by Peter Vincent in 1992. On 28 May 2014 the Australian business was placed into receivership. On 24 October 2014 the New Zealand division was placed into receivership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kapiti Coast Airport</span> Airport in Paraparaumu, Greater Wellington region

Kapiti Coast Airport, also spelt Kāpiti Coast Airport and previously called Paraparaumu Airport, is on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island, between the Wellington dormitory suburbs of Paraparaumu Beach, Paraparaumu to the east, and Raumati Beach to the south. The Wharemauku Stream flows through part of the airport's land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Airways of New Zealand</span>

Union Airways of New Zealand Limited was New Zealand's first major airline. It was founded in 1935 by local shipping giant Union Company. Its services reached main centres from Auckland to Dunedin and extended to Gisborne and the West Coast of the South Island. Union Airways was instrumental in the establishment of Australian National Airways and TEAL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nelson Airport (New Zealand)</span> Airport in Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson Airport is located 6 km (3.7 mi) south-west of central Nelson, New Zealand, in the suburb of Annesbrook. Approximately 1.2 million passengers and visitors use the airport terminal annually. Passenger numbers for the 2017 financial year were 1,000,373, up from 865,203 in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunair</span> Airline of New Zealand

Sunair is an airline based in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiwi Regional Airlines</span>

Kiwi Regional Airlines was an airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand which operated domestic flights within New Zealand between October 2015 and July 2016. 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. The airline owned and operated a single Saab 340A aircraft. The initial destinations served were Hamilton, Nelson, Dunedin and Queenstown, with flights to Queenstown being dropped in November 2015 and Tauranga being added to the network in February 2016.

References

  1. Not an IATA allocation - issued for domestic use by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
  2. 1 2 Not an ICAO allocation - issued for domestic use by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
  3. Basham, Laura (24 June 2015). "New airline Originair set to go". The Nelson Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  4. "About Originair". Originair. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  5. Redmond, Adele (23 February 2016). "CAA investigating Originair operator Air Freight NZ over safety concerns". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. Moore, Bill (13 April 2016). "Nelson's Originair grounding should be over soon says Inglis". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  7. Redmond, Adele (7 July 2016). "Originair resumes flights to Palmerston North". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  8. 1 2 "News – Originair".
  9. "Airline to launch direct flights between Napier, New Plymouth and Palmerston North". Stuff.co.nz. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  10. Leach, Abe (29 September 2018). "Inaugural commercial flight from New Plymouth to Napier takes off". Hawkes Bay Today. Retrieved 29 February 2020 via The New Zealand Herald.
  11. "Originair adds Nelson-Wellington route" . Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  12. "Nelson's Originair expanding to Hawke's Bay". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  13. "Originair, Hamilton Airport prepare to restart regional passenger route". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  14. "Originair suspends flights from New Plymouth to Nelson until new airport opened". 25 November 2019.
  15. "Booking and Schedule – Originair".
  16. Neal, Tracy (25 June 2015). "Origin founder rises again". Radio NZ. Retrieved 3 July 2015.