Air New Zealand Link

Air New Zealand Link was formed as the brand name for regional services in 1991, covering the three airlines Air New Zealand had purchased interests in: Eagle Airways, Mount Cook Airline and Air Nelson. The three airlines were purchased as Air New Zealand found it not viable to operate its own regional services due to the introduction of new competition, Ansett New Zealand.

The airlines were purchased as below:

Mount Cook Airline: Initial stake purchased by NAC in 1973, increased to 30% on 5 December 1983, 77% in October 1985, and 100% on 18 April 1991. Its operations ended in 2019.

Air Nelson: 50% stake purchased by Air New Zealand in October 1988, increased to 100% in 1995. Its operations ended in 2019.

Eagle Airways: 50% stake purchased by Air New Zealand in October 1988, which increased to 100% in 1995. Its operations ended in 2016.

Fleet

As of 30 April 2019 the Air New Zealand Link carriers operated the following aircraft.

Destinations

As of June 2019 Air New Zealand Link flies to the following destinations.

Accidents and incidents

On 29 March 1995, Eagle Airways Flight 2337, a Beechcraft Queen Air Excalibu from Hamilton to New Plymouth, crashed shortly after takeoff after both engines failed, killing all six people onboard. The flight was operated by Kiwi West Aviation on contract to Eagle Airways for Air New Zealand.

On 18 June 2007, Eagle Airways Flight 2300, a Beechcraft 1900D from Timaru to Wellington registered ZK-EAK, suffered a landing gear failure, and belly landed at Woodbourne Airport in Blenheim. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but all 17 occupants survived.

On 8 February 2008, a woman attempted to hijack Eagle Airways Flight 2279, a British Aerospace Jetstream from Blenheim to Christchurch. The woman said she had a bomb on board. Both pilots and one passenger suffered stab injuries. The aircraft landed safely and the woman was arrested. There were no injuries to the other passengers on board.