Sounds Air is a New Zealand airline based at Picton.[2] The airline was founded in 1986 by Cliff and Diane Marchant to provide low cost flights to the Marlborough Sounds.[3] The airline has a maintenance facility at Omaka aerodrome with its Sounds Aero Maintenance division based there.[4]
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| Founded | 1986 | ||||||
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| Operating bases | Wellington International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 10 | ||||||
| Destinations | 9 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Picton, New Zealand | ||||||
| Key people | Cliff Marchant (Founder), Andrew Crawford (Chief Executive/Director), Rhyan Wardman (Chairman, Director), Steve Handyside (Director), Simon Craddock (Director) | ||||||
| Website | soundsair | ||||||




From a single Cessna Caravan operating one route across the Cook Strait, Sounds Air has grown in 30 years; the airline carried 78,000 passengers in 2015, compared to 14,000 passengers in 2003. In 2008 the airline set up its own maintenance division as the airline could not find a company suitable to maintain its fleet.[5] In 2017, Sounds Air signalled that they were looking at buying twin engine planes for the first time: up to three 19-seater Beech 1900 aircraft to support extra demand for the Blenheim to Christchurch route.[6]
Sounds Air operates scheduled flights between Wellington and Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Taupo and Westport.[7][8] Scheduled flights are also available between Blenheim and Christchurch,[9][10] and Paraparaumu. Nelson also has flights to Paraparaumu.[11] Sounds Air formerly served Kaikoura, Napier and Whanganui[12] from Wellington, Napier from Blenheim and Kapiti Coast from Picton.[13] A service to Masterton was being considered from Wellington, however no such service eventuated, because the town wanted the link to Auckland reinstated instead.[14] In addition to scheduled flights Sounds Air offers scenic flights over the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park.[15] The airline started temporary services to Kaikoura from Christchurch and Blenheim on 21 November 2016 following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.[16] The Kaikoura to Christchurch flights ceased from 27 January 2017[17] followed by the Blenheim flights on 29 December 2017. From this date onwards Kaikoura will become a charter route only.[18] Sounds Air commenced Christchurch to Wānaka another former Air New Zealand route on 2 November 2020.[19]
Sounds Air operates scheduled services to the following destinations within New Zealand:
| City | IATA | Airport | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blenhiem | BHE | Woodbourne Airport | Current |
| Christchurch | CHC | Christchurch International Airport | Current |
| Kaikōura | KBZ | Kaikoura Airport | Terminated |
| Napier | NPE | Hawke's Bay Airport[20] | Terminated |
| Nelson | NSN | Nelson Airport | Current |
| Paraparaumu | PPQ | Kapiti Coast Airport | Current |
| Picton | PCN | Picton Aerodrome | Current |
| Taupo | TUO | Taupo Airport | Current |
| Wānaka | WKA | Wānaka Airport | Current[19] |
| Wanganui | WAG | Whanganui Airport | Terminated |
| Wellington | WLG | Wellington International Airport | Current |
| Westport | WSZ | Westport Airport | Current |
As of July 2020 the Sounds air fleet consists of ten aircraft.[21]
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers (Economy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 208 Caravan | 4 |
12 | |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 6 |
9[5] | |
| Total | 10 |
On 28 September 2020, the airline signed a letter of intent to Swedish company Heart Aerospace to purchase their ES-19 electric aircraft once it comes available, scheduled for 2026. The airline hopes the ES-19 will be able to make them the first regional airline to offer Zero-emissions flights.[22]
Media related to Sounds Air at Wikimedia Commons
Airlines of New Zealand | |||||
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| Charter | |||||
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| Defunct |
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