This follows in the footsteps of earlier changes including a morning Q300 service on the WLG-BHE route replacing two 1900D services. The extra Q300 capacity is due to the new ATR 72-600s being introduced to several Q300 routes.
The Auckland to Masterton route ends in February 2014, while the Wellington to Wanganui service ends in December this year.
Blaming uneconomic operations and lack of demand, Air New Zealand executives told Wairarapa mayors today the service from Masterton Airport would cease from February 5.In scuttlebutt around the internet there is word that Air New Zealand subsidiary Eagle Air is looking to sell 8 of their 1900D fleet but this is yet to be substantiated by any proof.
The main article for this on the NZ Herald website appears to have been removed despite being a trending topic and most read story with the links returning you to the home page, however the article can still be seen at the Wairarapa Times-Age site HERE (which itself is a subsidiary of the NZ Herald)
4 comments:
Eagle will go to 12 to 14 1900's from 2016.
The 1900D is a victim of high fuel prices and a changing aviation market. It no longer suits the Air NZ operation for a number of reasons; namely the fact that 19 seaters on marginal regional routes are no longer viable. Introducing higher frequencies on existing routes with the 1900D doesn't work well either as you may as well operate something like a Q300 in that case. I wonder what sort of future Eagle really has with this plane. I love the 1900D to bits but it's time for Air NZ to move on from this sort of aircraft. Other airlines certainly have.
The 1900 and Eagle will exist for another 10 years at least. EAG have just acquired a sim for installation this month, with new avionics being fitted from next year.
Makes sense they will stick around for a while since they're investing all that $$ into a sim, in regards to the 12/14 fleet I've heard talk of a fleet of 12 with 10 active, 1 hot spare and 1 in mx .... times will tell, but I do remember reading somewhere that up to 6 of the 1900Ds are already for sale online
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