Air International 1994-08
R.Shaw - Aucklang - Gateway to the South Pacific
Air New Zealand utilises its Boeing 767 fleet on many routes throughout the South Pacific, and to Australia and beyond to places like Bangkok. The type also supplements the 747 on the Los Angeles route via a number of South Pacific islands. The airline's first Boeing 767-200ER was ZK-NBA named Aotearoa.
One of the most attractive schemes of any airline is that of Fiji-based Air Pacific. The airline operates examples of the Boeing 737-500, 767 and 747, all of which are frequent visitors to Auckland. Illustrated is the airline's first 767-200 DQ-FJA which carries the name Island of Vanua Levu below the cockpit.
Based at Nelson, a town at the north end of South Island, Air Nelson operates feeder services primarily to link with services from Christchurch and Wellington, though journeys further afield to Auckland are also included in the network. Like Eagle Air, the company’s fleet of Navajo's, Metroliners and SF340s wear full Air New Zealand livery with Link titles. SF340A ZK-NSL is parked outside the domestic terminal at Auckland awaiting its passengers from a connecting long distance flight.
The New Zealand postal service operates a fleet of three Metroliners and two F27s in an attractive red and white livery with stylised letter logo on the fin. During daylight hours the aircraft can be seen resting at their bases; Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson, and Wellington. One of each type is based at Auckland. In the background of this photograph, the international terminal is just visible where two Air New Zealand aircraft and a British Airways 747 are parked.
Ansett New Zealand operate a fleet of eight BAe 146s (five Series 300s - one of which is seen here; two Series 200s and one Series 200QC Convertible).
BAe 146-200 of Ansett New Zealand
Two of New Zealand’s commuter airlines. Air Nelson and Eagle Air operate feeder services on behalf of Air New Zealand. These aircraft are flown in full Air New Zealand livery with Air New Zealand Link titles. Eagle Air is based at Hamilton, some 96km south of Auckland, and operates a fleet of EMB-110 Bandeirantes and SA227 Metroliners. Illustrated is one of the former, ZK-KIP. Note that the national prefix ZK- is omitted, a common feature on New Zealand registered aircraft which do not leave home shores.
Although based at Palmerston North in the southern part of North Island, Air Freight NZ operates one of its two freight configured Convair 580s from Auckland on night parcel flights. This aircraft, ZK-FTA, is fitted with a side cargo door, and prior to conversion was a Convair 340.
This aerial view shows the eastern part of Auckland Airport and the pleasant surrounding area. At the extreme bottom right of the picture is the Ansett New Zealand terminal, and immediately to the left of it is the Air New Zealand one, with a 737 parked on the apron. In the upper left of the picture is the Air New Zealand maintenance complex with a 747 visible on the ramp.