Mount Cook Airline
Encyclopedia
Mount Cook Airline is an airline
based in Christchurch
, New Zealand
. It is wholly owned by Air New Zealand
and operates scheduled services throughout the country under the Air New Zealand Link
brand. Its main base is Christchurch International Airport
.
by Rodolph Lysaght Wigley. Wigley, who in 1906 had driven the first motor car to Mount Cook, used six ex-RAF Avro 504
and three Airco DH.9
s for sightseeing flights and any other work available.
In 1921, Wigley pioneered flights to Mount Cook and from Invercargill
to Auckland
. The NZ Aero Transport Company had less than three successful years before winding up its activities due to declining public interest in aviation.
In the 1930s, Wigley formed Queenstown - Mount Cook Airway in conjunction with his son, Harry, later to become Sir Henry Wigley
. Sir Henry remained the Managing Director of the airline until 1979 and Chairman until his death in 1980. The company operated charter flights around Southern Lakes, Milford Sound
and Mount Cook regions, until it was suspended by World War II
. Flying resumed in 1952 using an Auster J1-A Autocrat
, registration ZK-BDX (now preserved inside the terminal of Queenstown Airport).
In 1954, NZ Aero Transport Company was reformed as Mount Cook Air Services Ltd, specialising in scenic flights, agricultural work and rescue missions.
Sir Henry solved the problem of landing in Tasman, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers by attaching retractable skis (designed and made in the company's vehicle workshop) to the Auster, and landed on the snow of Tasman Glacier
. This is how the Ski Plane operation started, aimed at taking tourists to skifields and glaciers in ski-equipped light aircraft.
Mount Cook Ski Planes now operates a fleet of Cessna 185
s and Pilatus Porter
s, and is the only company to land scenic flights on the Tasman Glacier to this day.
The Mount Cook Group
operated bus
services, trucking
, skifields and built an airfield at Mount Cook to bring in the growing number of visitors to the Southern Alps
. Scheduled services for Mount Cook Airline began on 6 November 1961 between Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown
and Te Anau
with a 26-seater Douglas DC-3
.
Mount Cook Airline was one of New Zealand's tourism pioneers opening up the 'tourist trail' of Rotorua
through to Christchurch, Mount Cook and Queenstown. For almost 30 years, it operated a fleet of Hawker Siddeley HS 748s across regional tourist routes in New Zealand. After a long evaluation study, the first of the new ATR 72-200s arrived in October 1995 as the chosen replacement of the HS 748s.
In June 2001, Air New Zealand Group added extra capacity on domestic routes by introducing four BAe 146
s to supplement the ATRs. These aircraft were taken from the failed Qantas New Zealand franchise. A temporary measure, they retired the following year after six extra Boeing 737-300s were added to the mainline fleet.
The airline's symbol is the Mount Cook Lily
, which prior to the integration with the Air New Zealand link brand was displayed on the tails of its aeroplanes.
Air New Zealand purchased part of the Mount Cook Group in the 1980s after Sir Henry's death, increased to 30% on 5 December 1983, then another 47% (increased to 77%) in October 1985 after gaining approval on 18 July that year; and the remainder on 18 April 1991.
Mount Cook Airline has 378 employees (as at March 2007).
s smaller capacity Q-300 airliners.
A fleet of Hawker Siddeley HS 748s was operated from 1970 to 1996. The last commercial flight was on 9 February 1996, from Wellington to Christchurch. The aging HS 748 fleet was replaced by seven ATR 72-200s from 1995 after an evaluation process that included the Fokker F50, Bae APT, and Saab 2000.
8 ex-Qantas New Zealand BAe 146-300s were temporarily operated by Air New Zealand
after Qantas New Zealand's collapse. They were used to boost extra capacity to domestic service from June 2001 to 2002. The BAe 146s were placed under Mount Cook Airline's management structure for the duration. (Up to four aircraft were operated at any one time as the BAe fleet were rotated through and sold off.) This allowed time for Air New Zealand to add another six Boeing 737-300s to the mainline fleet. The BAe 146s were then retired ending twelve years of domestic service in New Zealand.
Also operated:
In October 2011 Air New Zealand announced a doubling of the ATR fleet by purchasing 12 new ATR 72-600 models. The upgraded fleet was delayed for four years due to the economic conditions of the time. The -600 model is a further development of the type including a revised cabin layout and RNP
navigation to allow flights into New Zealand's more marginal weather dependant airports such as Wellington, Queenstown, Rotorua and Hamilton.
Mount Cook Airline will be operating it's third generation of the type when the -600 starts service in 2012. Proving it's continued reliability operating in New Zealand's often harsh flying conditions.
ATR
has announced that they were preparing to launch the development of a 90 seat turbo-prop airliner as a step up from the -72 model. Air New Zealand has taken interest in this development as a fuel efficient 90–100 seat airliner for provincial routes has been proven to be needed within the next ten years.
announced that it was moving the ATR 72-500 and now ATR 72-600 heavy maintenance work away from Mount Cook Airline's home of Christchurch Airport. Air Nelson
's maintenance base would take over all ATR 72-500/600 heavy maintenance work from November 2010. Later in 2011 Eagle Airways will subcontract some ATR maintenance, to be performed at its Hamilton engineering base.
to Invercargill
, was forced to divert to Dunedin
due to a burning smell on board the aircraft. The flight landed safely and the 53 passengers were bussed to Invercargill.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is wholly owned by Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
and operates scheduled services throughout the country under the Air New Zealand Link
Air New Zealand Link
Air New Zealand Link is a brand name under which three regional airlines operate feeder flights for Air New Zealand. They primarily connect regional centers with New Zealand's three main international airports.-History:...
brand. Its main base is Christchurch International Airport
Christchurch International Airport
-Facts & figures:As the gateway for Christchurch and the South Island, Christchurch International Airport is New Zealand’s second largest airport.5,908,077 passengers travelled in and out of Christchurch International Airport from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009...
.
History
The airline was established and started operations in 1920 as New Zealand Aero Transport Company, at TimaruTimaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
by Rodolph Lysaght Wigley. Wigley, who in 1906 had driven the first motor car to Mount Cook, used six ex-RAF Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
and three Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
s for sightseeing flights and any other work available.
In 1921, Wigley pioneered flights to Mount Cook and from Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. The NZ Aero Transport Company had less than three successful years before winding up its activities due to declining public interest in aviation.
In the 1930s, Wigley formed Queenstown - Mount Cook Airway in conjunction with his son, Harry, later to become Sir Henry Wigley
Henry Rodolph Wigley
Sir Harry Wigley, born Henry Rodolph Wigley was a pilot, entrepreneur and pioneer of the New Zealand tourism industry....
. Sir Henry remained the Managing Director of the airline until 1979 and Chairman until his death in 1980. The company operated charter flights around Southern Lakes, Milford Sound
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...
and Mount Cook regions, until it was suspended by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Flying resumed in 1952 using an Auster J1-A Autocrat
Auster Autocrat
-External links:*...
, registration ZK-BDX (now preserved inside the terminal of Queenstown Airport).
In 1954, NZ Aero Transport Company was reformed as Mount Cook Air Services Ltd, specialising in scenic flights, agricultural work and rescue missions.
Sir Henry solved the problem of landing in Tasman, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers by attaching retractable skis (designed and made in the company's vehicle workshop) to the Auster, and landed on the snow of Tasman Glacier
Tasman Glacier
The Tasman Glacier is the largest of several glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps in New Zealand's South Island. It is New Zealand's longest glacier.-Geography:...
. This is how the Ski Plane operation started, aimed at taking tourists to skifields and glaciers in ski-equipped light aircraft.
Mount Cook Ski Planes now operates a fleet of Cessna 185
Cessna 185
-Specification for differing configurations:-References:* Jan Churchill, Hit My Smoke: Forward Air Controllers in Southeast Asia, Sunflower University Press, Manhattan KS, ISBN 0-89745-215-1...
s and Pilatus Porter
Pilatus PC-6
|-See also:-References:* Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–1994. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0 7106 1066 1.* Taylor, John W. R. Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965....
s, and is the only company to land scenic flights on the Tasman Glacier to this day.
The Mount Cook Group
Mount Cook Group
Mount Cook Group, earlier called Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company was a New Zealand tourism and transport operator and former owner of Mount Cook Airline...
operated bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
services, trucking
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
, skifields and built an airfield at Mount Cook to bring in the growing number of visitors to the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
. Scheduled services for Mount Cook Airline began on 6 November 1961 between Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
and Te Anau
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and second only within New Zealand to Lake Taupo. The 2001 census recorded the town's population as 1,857...
with a 26-seater Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
.
Mount Cook Airline was one of New Zealand's tourism pioneers opening up the 'tourist trail' of Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
through to Christchurch, Mount Cook and Queenstown. For almost 30 years, it operated a fleet of Hawker Siddeley HS 748s across regional tourist routes in New Zealand. After a long evaluation study, the first of the new ATR 72-200s arrived in October 1995 as the chosen replacement of the HS 748s.
In June 2001, Air New Zealand Group added extra capacity on domestic routes by introducing four BAe 146
BAe 146
The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
s to supplement the ATRs. These aircraft were taken from the failed Qantas New Zealand franchise. A temporary measure, they retired the following year after six extra Boeing 737-300s were added to the mainline fleet.
The airline's symbol is the Mount Cook Lily
Mount Cook Lily
Ranunculus lyallii , is a species of Ranunculus , endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs in the South Island and on Stewart Island at altitudes of 700–1,500 m.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 60–100 cm tall ,...
, which prior to the integration with the Air New Zealand link brand was displayed on the tails of its aeroplanes.
Air New Zealand purchased part of the Mount Cook Group in the 1980s after Sir Henry's death, increased to 30% on 5 December 1983, then another 47% (increased to 77%) in October 1985 after gaining approval on 18 July that year; and the remainder on 18 April 1991.
Mount Cook Airline has 378 employees (as at March 2007).
Destinations
Mount Cook Airline serve the following routes in New Zealand:| Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... |
Napier Napier -People:* Napier * John Napier -Australia:* Electoral district of Napier, a state electoral district in South Australia* Mount Napier, a dormant volcano in Victoria... , Palmerston North Palmerston North Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank... |
Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... , Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... , Invercargill Invercargill Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,... , Mount Cook(Begins 23 December 2012), Palmerston North Palmerston North Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank... , Rotorua Rotorua Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns... , Queenstown Queenstown, New Zealand Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains.... , Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... |
Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... |
Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... , Queenstown Queenstown, New Zealand Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains.... , Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... , Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... |
Palmerston North Palmerston North Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank... |
Fleet
A versatile aircraft, the ATR 72-500 is used to operate from main cities to larger provincial towns during peak times and operate on main trunk routes off peak times. Complementing fellow subsidiary, Air NelsonAir Nelson
Air Nelson, a subsidiary of Air New Zealand is a regional airline based in Nelson, New Zealand. It operates services on provincial routes under the Air New Zealand Link brand. Its main base is Nelson Airport, with hubs at Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wellington, Tauranga and Christchurch.The...
s smaller capacity Q-300 airliners.
Previously operated
The airline previously operated:A fleet of Hawker Siddeley HS 748s was operated from 1970 to 1996. The last commercial flight was on 9 February 1996, from Wellington to Christchurch. The aging HS 748 fleet was replaced by seven ATR 72-200s from 1995 after an evaluation process that included the Fokker F50, Bae APT, and Saab 2000.
8 ex-Qantas New Zealand BAe 146-300s were temporarily operated by Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
after Qantas New Zealand's collapse. They were used to boost extra capacity to domestic service from June 2001 to 2002. The BAe 146s were placed under Mount Cook Airline's management structure for the duration. (Up to four aircraft were operated at any one time as the BAe fleet were rotated through and sold off.) This allowed time for Air New Zealand to add another six Boeing 737-300s to the mainline fleet. The BAe 146s were then retired ending twelve years of domestic service in New Zealand.
Also operated:
- Britten-Norman IslanderBritten-Norman IslanderThe Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
- Cessna 185Cessna 185-Specification for differing configurations:-References:* Jan Churchill, Hit My Smoke: Forward Air Controllers in Southeast Asia, Sunflower University Press, Manhattan KS, ISBN 0-89745-215-1...
- de Havilland Rapide
- de Havilland Canada Twin Otter
- Fokker F27Fokker F27The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
- Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
- Grumman GooseGrumman GooseThe Grumman G-21 Goose amphibious aircraft was designed as an eight-seat "commuter" plane for businessmen in the Long Island area. The Goose was Grumman’s first monoplane to fly, its first twin-engined aircraft, and its first aircraft to enter commercial airline service...
- Grumman WidgeonGrumman Widgeon|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Donald, David. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5....
ATR Fleet changes
The original ATR 72-200 fleet was swapped one for one with the updated ATR 72-500 during 2001–2002. Extra aircraft were also added allowing Air New Zealand to retire the last of its Boeing 737-200s. The ATR 72-500 has proven itself well on Air New Zealand's provincial routes, offering economies on services unsustaniable with larger jet equipment.In October 2011 Air New Zealand announced a doubling of the ATR fleet by purchasing 12 new ATR 72-600 models. The upgraded fleet was delayed for four years due to the economic conditions of the time. The -600 model is a further development of the type including a revised cabin layout and RNP
RNP
-Medicine:* Ribonucleoprotein, a compound of ribonucleic acid and protein* Ribonucleoprotein Particle, intracellular compartments involved in post-transcriptional fate-Military:* Royal Navy Police, the new name for the British Royal Navy Regulating Branch...
navigation to allow flights into New Zealand's more marginal weather dependant airports such as Wellington, Queenstown, Rotorua and Hamilton.
Mount Cook Airline will be operating it's third generation of the type when the -600 starts service in 2012. Proving it's continued reliability operating in New Zealand's often harsh flying conditions.
ATR
ATR
ATR is an Italian-French aircraft manufacturer headquartered on the grounds of Toulouse Blagnac International Airport in Blagnac, France surburb of Toulouse. It was formed in 1981 by Aérospatiale of France and Aeritalia of Italy...
has announced that they were preparing to launch the development of a 90 seat turbo-prop airliner as a step up from the -72 model. Air New Zealand has taken interest in this development as a fuel efficient 90–100 seat airliner for provincial routes has been proven to be needed within the next ten years.
Change in heavy maintenance
In April 2010, parent airline Air New ZealandAir New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
announced that it was moving the ATR 72-500 and now ATR 72-600 heavy maintenance work away from Mount Cook Airline's home of Christchurch Airport. Air Nelson
Air Nelson
Air Nelson, a subsidiary of Air New Zealand is a regional airline based in Nelson, New Zealand. It operates services on provincial routes under the Air New Zealand Link brand. Its main base is Nelson Airport, with hubs at Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wellington, Tauranga and Christchurch.The...
's maintenance base would take over all ATR 72-500/600 heavy maintenance work from November 2010. Later in 2011 Eagle Airways will subcontract some ATR maintenance, to be performed at its Hamilton engineering base.
Incidents and accidents
On 9 July 2010, Mount Cook Flight 5067, an ATR 72-500 flying from ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
to Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
, was forced to divert to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
due to a burning smell on board the aircraft. The flight landed safely and the 53 passengers were bussed to Invercargill.