3rd Level New Zealand

16 December 2025

Air NZ Interline for Whakatāne!

On the Air Chathams' Facebook page today...

The wait is over. Our interline partnership with Air New Zealand is now on sale for flights, connecting to or from Whakatane to anywhere across the Air New Zealand domestic network, from the 24th March 2026 onwards.

This partnership will enable more seamless travel to and from Whakatane.

Bags checked through to final destination

Boarding passes for both airlines provided at check in.

For travellers in and out of the Eastern Bay of Plenty, this means fewer hassles, smoother connections, and more options when planning their next trip.

Regional flying made simpler, just how it should be.

Taupō - Index of Posts

The following is a list of operators that have flown regular air services through Taupō and links to my profiles on their operation. As always I love to receive corrections, more information and photos to update these posts... Steve - westland831@gmail.com

1957-1960

Post in final stages of preparation

Looking for a photo of ZK-BQI with Taupo Air Services titles

1957-1958

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2013/03/petersen-aviation-wairoas-first-air.html

1961-1966

Post to be written

1966-1978

Post in final stages of preparation

Looking for photos of Friendships at Taupo

1966-1975

Post in final stages of preparation

1968

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2020/12/sky-travel-nz-brave-new-feeder-operator.html

1970-1971

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/04/geyserland-airways.html

1975-1976

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2012/08/air-north-big-enough-to-serve-small.html

1975-1982

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2013/11/air-central-north-island-commuter.html

1978-1990, 2016-current

Post to be written

1981

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2014/03/lakeair-and-mitsubishis-for-sale.html

1983-early 1990s

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/03/taupo-air-services.html

1987-1996

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2016/02/mount-cook-airlines-part-3-1980-1995.html

1990-2016

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2013/01/eagle-airways-part-1-fledgling-eagle.html

1990-1991

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2017/07/air-nelson-part-1-nelson-wellington.html

1995-2004

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2025/03/aircruising-new-zealand.html

1996-1997

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-air-charter-company.html

1997-1998

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/07/economic-and-efficient-travel-northern.html

1998-mid 2000s

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-barrier-connection-great-barrier.html

2003-2004

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/08/origin-pacific-airways-airline-for-our.html

2016-2024

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2014/08/sounds-air-fast-scenic-way-to-cross.html

2025

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/08/originair-new-cook-strait-carrier.html

14 December 2025

The Air Charter Company - One of our Courier Operators

In the 1980s and 1990s there were a number of small air charter operators whose operations largely went unnoticed. The Air Charter Company was one of these operators. It was established in 1995 by David Ross and based in Rotorua and offered 24 hour nationwide charter, scenic air tours and air freight services. Iain Payne was appointed as the chief pilot.

The first aircraft registered to David Ross was Beech 76 Duchess ZK-SIR which was also registered to him between April 1995 and November 1997. This was Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II ZK-ESK between November 1995 and February 1996.

The Air Charter Company's first aircraft, Beech Duchess ZK-SIR at Wanaka on 6 April 1996. Photo : I Coates.

Bay of Plenty Yellow Pages, 1996

Sometime in 1996 The Air Charter Company started operating a courier freight service out of Auckland. It has been difficult to find definitive information but it seems the service saw an early morning flight departing from Auckland for Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupō. In the late afternoon/evening the aircraft flight returned to Auckland departing Taupō and flying via Rotorua and Hamilton. A courier service was also operated between Auckland and Whangārei. The NZ Wings Directory of 1997 seems indicate similar flights between Wellington and Masterton this has not been able to confirm. The Air Charter Company used the callsign REGIONAL.

In addition to the Beech Duchess A number of twin aircraft were used to operated the courier services. In addition to Partenavia P68B Victor ZK-DMA was leased from North Island Air Services Ltd which traded as Northern Air.

Partenavia P76B Victor ZK-DMA at Ardmore on 20 June 1995. Photo : MRC Aviation

In June 1996 Partenavia P68B Victor ZK-ERA was registered to David Ross in June 1996. The same month Cessna 421C Golden Eagle ZK-ZAQ was also registered to him and it was with the company until November 1996. In July 1996 Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II ZK-DCP was registered to David Ross until March 1997.

The Air Charter Company's Partenavia P76B Victor ZK-ERA sitting at Taupō for the day on 22 November 1996

The Air Charter Company's Beech Duchess ZK-SIR at Rotorua operating courier flight REGIONAL 45 to Hamilton and Auckland on 14 March 1997. Photo F B Gavin

Northern Air took over The Air Charter Company’s courier services in October 1997.

David Ross was later involved with Bay Air Aviation which also operated a courier service from Rotorua to Auckland.

If any pilots from the Air Charter Company read this I would appreciate it if you could give me more information about what routes the aircraft flew in the mornings and evenings. Thanks, Steve - westland831@gmail.com