Air NZ to make announcement about regional fleet

[Ryan Hothersall]

Are these new ATRs for fleet expansion or to replace the older ones operated ny Air NZ link/Mount Cook?.

[Rowan McKeever]

Additional to the current -500s

[Jarden S]

Air NZ says they are the most effecient aircraft in its class.
1st one arrives in OCT 12 2nd in DEC 12
2 more in 2013 and 1 each year after for 3 years to take the total to 7 firm orders and 5 options.

[Richard H.]

Are the 72-500's that old? Surely they are still under 10 years at this point? IIRC, Mt Cook originally purchased 72-200s and then through some arcane means managed to swap them out with new build 72-500s a short time later. At any rate the ones I have been flying in still seem rather clean and fresh.

I am guessing these will not spell the end of the Q300 or the B1900 in the NZ regional fleets though. From what I have seen, regional air travel in NZ is still expanding steadily.

I really hope this influx has no effect on the Air Chathams CV.580s though. I'm still aiming for a trip or two on one of them someday!