Another Airline! What do they put in the water in Nelson?

Maori Trust, Ngati Koata has decided to set up a small air charter and freight service. They will lease two 18 seat Jetstream aircraft for the venture (old Origin planes I suspect). The trust is looking for companies that want to use its freight service in the Nelson area.

Recently another Nelson man claimed he was going to set up an Air Charter business but nothing came of it. In this case the Trust has applied for an Air Operators License.

How many regional airlines can a place like Nelson create? NZ is a very small market and some pretty clever and well-backed businesses have tried to enter the regional freight and passenger service. Unfortunately the airways are littered with their wreckage, metaphorically of course. I suspect this will be another one that last 12 – 18 months.