Sounds Air takes flight with another aircraft

Commuter airline Sounds Air is growing.

The Cook Strait operator which serves Nelson has added another Cessna Grand Caravan to its fleet, which now stands at four aircraft.

Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford said the aircraft was previously operating with Salt Air in Kerikeri, and the company bought it in May.

The past two months have been spent repainting the aircraft in the Sounds Air fleet colours.

It is now in service and took its first commercial flight on Monday, when 12 passengers boarded at Blenheim for a flight to Wellington, Mr Crawford said. "Each passenger was given a bottle of champagne to celebrate the occasion," he said.

The new aircraft will complement the fleet on flights from Wellington to Picton, Blenheim and Nelson and will allow Sounds Air the opportunity to offer more charter flights and extra flights at peak times as demand increases at weekends and over the summer season, Mr Crawford said.

"With the extra capacity we will also be adding a daily return freight flight across Cook Strait to enhance service to our existing customers and provide options to new freight clients."

Source:   http://www.stuff.co.nz