New Tauranga route gets off the ground

While the rain held off for the arrival of North Shore Air's first scheduled flight from North Shore to Tauranga this morning, the aircraft, a Piper Navajo ZK-JGA, still got wet.

The Tauranga Airport Fire Service gave ZK-JGA a water canon salute to welcome the twice-daily service to the Bay of Plenty.


The first North Shore Air flight from Dairy Flat in Auckland landed in Tauranga this morning. Photos: Grayson Ottaway.

The first flight was flown under the command of Daryl Williamson and Andrew Underwood.

The new air service offers Tauranga business and leisure passengers a quick and easy air link that avoids the hassle of negotiating Auckland rush hour traffic.

Aviation Safety Management Systems director Heather Andrews says that the Dairy Flat flight incorporates a direct connection with the Auckland central business district that can move passengers from Dairy Flat airfield into the city in just 20 minutes.

'It can be quite a nightmare to get from Manukau [where the existing airport is] to the city,” explains Heather.

'You have to go the evening before if you have an 8.30am or 9am meeting because of the traffic.

'This plane has a really special feature – a beautiful corporate minivan – so it goes straight down the bus lane from North Shore so you are in town in 20 minutes.”

CEO of North Shore Air Peter Newman says the flight time is 40 minutes and the adult fare is $249 one way.

For more information, visit: www.northshoreair.co.nz

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7 comments

Whoa!

Posted on 29-09-2015 08:23 | By peecee09

I want to go to Auckland not Sydney! I lie I don't want to go toAuckland but I could go to Sydney for that crazy ticket price.


peecee09

Posted on 29-09-2015 10:33 | By dbunk

You're not forced to use this service! feel free to drive and sit in traffic for 3 hours!


Try the Bus!

Posted on 29-09-2015 12:37 | By Mackka

Can't see this venture lasting long at that ridiculous price unless in the case of a dire emergency. Naked bus RETURN fare Tga-Auck-Tga when booked in advance can be less than $30!


The bus lol

Posted on 29-09-2015 14:03 | By maccachic

I guess some people don't understand how business meetings work. This should hopefully save us money/time by the time we fly people into Auckland Airport and taxi / rental car to the North Shore.


Fare prices

Posted on 29-09-2015 14:08 | By maccachic

According to North Shore Airs website flights are from $149 one way


Yo, YES -

Posted on 29-09-2015 22:17 | By The Caveman

Check their website - $149 ONE way, Tauranga to North Shore. And under $300 for a booked return flight - sure as hell beats a 3 hour drive to Auckland, or a flight to Auckland airport, with the $60/80 taxi trip each way to central Auckland - AND they INCLUDE a shuttle ride into central Auckland - about 20 minutes.


Piper Navajo

Posted on 30-09-2015 01:10 | By maildrop

The safety record of these types of planes is interesting. It would need to be a very important meeting and very nice weather for me to give it a whirl.


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