Kiwi Regional announces first routes.
KIWI Regional Airlines has announced the routes it will fly with its first aircraft
Commencing on September 27th this year, Kiwi will start each day with a return Dunedin – Queenstown flight, supporting close business and tourism relationships between the two cities.
The aircraft, a SAAB 340A 32-seat twin-engine turboprop model, will then fly mid-morning to Nelson direct from Dunedin, a route that has not been flown previously by a scheduled service, but connects the country's premier fishing industry ports, and the two largest South Island cities outside Christchurch.
From Nelson, Kiwi flies return to Hamilton in the middle of the day, renewing a connection flown by thousands of passengers annually on both Origin Pacific and Air New Zealand until 2008.
The flight then returns from Nelson to Dunedin mid-afternoon, before repeating the Dunedin – Queenstown return flight in the early evening.
Kiwi Chief executive Ewan Wilson said he was "very pleased at the progress Kiwi is making"'.
"Our Civil Aviation Authority certification is well under way, key personnel have been appointed, airports are being negotiated with, aircraft purchase steps are nearing fruition and now we have finalised our first route."
"Our route is an exciting one, different from all other airlines, and we expect will be well-supported by the communities it serves."
Kiwi intends to add a second aircraft, and additional routes, within the next 12 months.