Media Release 21 June 06
Air New Zealand makes Oamaru its 26th New Zealand destination
Air New Zealand is to commence regular services between Oamaru and Christchurch on 7 August, making a total of 26
destinations around New Zealand for the airline.
The new service, which will be operated by Air New Zealand Link carrier Eagle Air using a chartered J32 19 seat
turbo-prop aircraft, marks a return to Oamaru for the airline after some 17 years.
Initially, there will be six return flights per week with one return trip daily Monday - Friday during peak morning and
evening times, and a Friday night departure with return to Oamaru on Sunday. Sales of the new service commence Thursday
this week.
Air New Zealand Group General Manager Norm Thompson said the airline was delighted to once again provide Oamaru with an
air service and, given the support of the local business community, is confident that it will be well utilised.
"This new service is a good example of Air New Zealand's commitment to support the smaller regional communities of New
Zealand by providing direct links to the larger centres," said Mr Thompson. "To this end, our domestic network is
continually under review and if we do not have the available 19 seat aircraft ourselves we will use our support
operators, Vincent Aviation or Air National, as we currently do on a number of other regional routes. An added advantage
is that the use of the chartered aircraft will free up one of ours and enable Eagle Air to provide extra
Christchurch-Wanaka services during the peak travel ski season," he said.
Details of the new Oamaru services are as follows:
Monday - Friday Depart Oamaru 7.05 am Arrive Christchurch 7.50 am Depart Christchurch 5.20 pm Arrive Oamaru
6.05 pm Friday Depart Oamaru 6.25 pm Arrive Christchurch 7.10 pm Sunday Depart Christchurch 5.20 pm Arrive
Oamaru 6.05 pm
Details of the new Wanaka services are as follows:
Monday - Thursday (7 Aug - 21 Sept only) and Friday (all year round) Depart Christchurch 1.50 pm Arrive Wanaka
2.50 pm Depart Wanaka 3.10 pm Arrive Christchurch 4.05 pm Sunday (all year round) Depart Christchurch 2.00 pm
Arrive Wanaka 3.00 pm Depart Wanaka 3.15 pm Arrive Christchurch 4.10 pm
ENDS