Sounds Air is dropping routes, selling aircraft and laying off staff, despite the fact that passenger demand has never been so strong.
The carrier says it is battling escalating cost and supply chain structure in conjunction with a very weak New Zealand dollar, saying it has exhausted all other options to restore the viability of the business. “Government appears to believe that private capital markets will step in to sort this out,” says the carrier in a statement. “While on the other hand, private capital markets believe that Government should step in to level the playing field like they do in other parts of the world, in order to maintain essential regional air services.”
. . . Planes On Sale
The regional carrier will sell its Pilatus PC12 fleet from 28 Sep, instead focusing on expanding its Cessna Caravan fleet for the shorter Cook Strait sectors, as it did in 1987. This means that its Blenheim to Christchurch and Christchurch to Wanaka services will cease to operate from 28 Sep. The carrier says it is truly devastated to have been forced into this position after five years of fighting for a solution.
