Air Nelson Expands Q300 Fleet

Air Nelson today confirmed that it would acquire two additional Bombardier Q300 aircraft to boost capacity into and out of Nelson and other regional centres.

The purchase of the two new aircraft has been approved by the Air New Zealand Board.

The list price for a 50-seat Bombardier Q300 is approximately USD$16 million.

The purchase will increase the airline’s Q300 fleet to 23 by May 2009. Air Nelson currently has 17 Q300 aircraft operating on its regional network. Its 18th Q300 was handed over to Air Nelson in Montreal on Friday and will go into service next month.

Air Nelson already has another three aircraft on order and General Manager John Hambleton says he is delighted at the Air New Zealand Board’s continued confidence in the regional airline’s growth.

“By 2009, our capacity will have increased more than 40% on current levels. The two new aircraft will also provide us with the flexibility to look at adding new routes to our already extensive network,” he says.

Mr Hambleton says the purchase is good news for Air Nelson customers and the local economy, and reinforces Air New Zealand’s commitment to regional New Zealand.

“We expect to create about 50 new jobs over the next 18 months to meet fleet growth, including roles for pilots, crew and engineers,” he says.

Air Nelson, which is a fully-owned subsidiary of Air New Zealand, carries more than 500,000 customers into and out of Nelson annually and contributes more than $20 million annually in wages and contract services to the local economy.