Sunair


Sunair is an airline based in New Zealand.
It operates scheduled services in the North Island. Headquartered in Tauranga, the airline flies to Hamilton, Rotorua, Gisborne, Ardmore, Whangarei, Whitianga and Great Barrier Island. It also has charter and pilot training operations. Sunair has fifteen aircraft.

History

Sunair initially started as a commuter operator to Motiti Island in the Bay of Plenty with one aircraft. The airline has flown for over 30 years and has a safe accident free record. It operates approximately 4000 flights per year with a staff of 28.
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand withdrew Sunair's Air Operator Certificate, along with the Certificate of Airworthiness for the Sunair fleet, on September 8th 2017. No reason for the certificate withdrawal has been made public by the Authority. The airline remained inoperative while the matter was pursued by the authority.
Sunair remained grounded for 203 days and was finally granted permission to fly again in April 2018, by NZ CAA.
The first service resumed in its own right was the doctor service between Whangarei and Kaitaia, which Sunair had been able to continue to operate using leased aircraft. Scheduled services were offered again from the 28th of May 2018 with flights being offered from Hamilton or Tauranga to Great Barrier Island or Whangarei, and from Great Barrier Island to Whitianga or Whangarei. The East Coast service has not been recommenced at this stage.

Destinations

As of March 2017 Sunair currently operates services from the following destinations:
CityAirportNotes
AucklandArdmore Airport
AucklandAuckland AirportTerminated
GisborneGisborne Airport
Great Barrier IslandGreat Barrier Aerodrome
HamiltonHamilton AirportFocus city
Motiti IslandMotiti Island AerodromeServed on demand
New PlymouthNew Plymouth AirportTerminated
Palmerston NorthPalmerston North AirportTerminated
RotoruaRotorua Regional Airport
TaurangaTauranga AirportHub
WhakataneWhakatane AirportTerminated
WhangareiWhangarei Airport
WhitiangaWhitianga Aerodrome

Fleet

As of April 2016 the Sunair fleet consists of the following light aircraft: