Sounds Air confirm WAG

Sounds Air have confirmed they will enter the Wellington-Wanganui route as previously hinted (See this post from November)

NEW Wellington to Wanganui service has been added today - New flights start on the 21st January 2014 - Available to book online now - Remember at Sounds Air the price we advertise is the price you pay. No credit card fees, no bag fees, no travel insurance fees, no "I feel I am getting ripped off" fees. What we say is what you pay.

Fares are set at $125 (internet only) one way with the flight operating WAG-WLG SA14 in the morning (06:45-07:25) and WEL-WAG SA73 in the evening (18:00-18:40) Sun-Fri (No Sat flight)

Read more at the Sounds Air website or the Wanganui Chronicle HERE - article written by friend of this blog Zac Yates

Sounds Air to add WAG?

Picton based Sounds Air look set to replace Air New Zealand on the Wellington to Whanganui route according to a Marlborough Express report.

Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said detailed discussions between the airline and the Whanganui District Council were " a long way through" and an official announcement was pending.
Air New Zealand announced in September that it would drop its five-times weekly service between Whanganui and Wellington from Christmas Eve, citing a lack of demand.
Mr Crawford said Sounds Air would fly at the same times as the current Air New Zealand flights. But it would provide fewer seats than Air New Zealand which uses a 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D.   

This would take the Sounds Air destinations to 5 with Wellington, Picton (Koromiko), Blenheim, Nelson & Masterton* all currently served.

*Masterton was scheduled to start with Sounds Air offering flights to Wellington in place of the scheduled Air New Zealand services

Read the full article from the Marlborough Express HERE

Could SA replace NZ in MRO?

While its a bit of a stretch to think its SA code namesake South African Airlines would replace Air New Zealand Link on services into Masterton, there is a chance that Sounds Air may bring services back to the airport.

Sounds Air would not look to replace the national airline on its Masterton-Auckland service rather operating a new Masterton to Wellington service to offer passengers an alternative to traffic queues and exorbitant parking charges at Wellington.

While criticism continues of the national carrier's decision to can its Masterton-Auckland route, Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told The Dominion Post his airline would meet Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell on Monday to discuss stepping into the breach from November.   

Sounds Air would offer an early morning departure from Masteron in one of its Cessna C208 Caravan's on the short flight to Wellington where passengers can then connect onto an Air New Zealand service to Auckland or Christchurch.

Read more on the potential offering HERE

NZWB/BHE set to grow

Photo from Marlborough Airport website

Blenheim's airport terminal, at Woodbourne (NZWB/BHE) is set to more than double its footprint in expansion plans unveiled yesterday.

It was expected to take six months to complete the work, which would see the passenger area expanded to the south, increasing existing floor space from 92 square metres to 240 square metres.
A mezzanine floor was also being considered to further increase passenger space.   

The current terminal opened in 1995 and passengers numbers have grown to 230 000/yr and are expected to continue to grow, especially with more Air New Zealand flights moving to the Q300 aircraft.  Even if Air New Zealand replace 2x 1900D flights with a single Q300 flight that is still an increase in capacity from 38 to 50 seats.

Marlborough Airport is served by 3 airlines Air New Zealand operating a mix of B1900D & Q300 aircraft to AKL, CHC & WLG, SoundsAir operating C208 Caravan & C208B Grand Caravan Aircraft to WLG and Air2There operating a C208 Caravan between PPQ, BHE & NSN - Air2There codeshare on the SoundsAir BHE-WLG route.

Read more on the terminal expansion via local newspaper The Marlborough Express reporter Cathie Bell HERE