Air NZ bows out of Beijing

Air NZ is suspending its twice weekly service to the Chinese capital of Peking/Beijing with Boeing 777-219 ZK-OKE operating the final NZ287 service north bound on the night of 30 June and arriving back at Auckland on the morning of 02 July.

The airline announced in late March that following a review of operations through China it would concentrate its flights on Shanghai/Pudong and this will increase to five times per week from early July and ultimately become a daily service from 2013.

The first service between Auckland and Beijing was flown with Boeing 777-219 ZK-OKC on 18 July 2008.

ZK-OKE pictured at Auckland on 01 July 2006, MRC photo

NZ Farewell's Aerolineas Argentinas

Today New Zealand farewells yet another carrier, this time Aerolineas Argentinas.  I've tried to piece together the airline's history with New Zealand but there are a few gaps to be filled.  Herewith is what has so far been gleaned.

The first Aerolineas (AR) aircraft to visit Auckland was Boeing 747-287B LV-MLR on 08 June 1980, the aircraft arriving on what appears to have been a route proving exercise from Buenos Aires (EZE) and a tech stop at Rio Gallegos having departed there on 07 June and operating the first trans-South Pole commercial flight.  It departed the following day for Hong Kong.

LV-MLO arriving at Auckland 30 March 1998, MRC photo

LV-OOZ on a one off visit to Auckland 25 January 2001 to provide seasonal capacity, MRC photo

Between April and August of 1981 five charter flights were flown and first scheduled flight arrived at Auckland on 06 September 1981 with Boeing 747-287B LV-OEP, its origin is recorded as Buenos Aires but MRC Aviation suspects it would have been via Rio Gallegos at the southern tip of Argentina which was a technical stop for fuel as the range of the -200's was just a little short, with payload, to fly direct from the country's capital.  To maximise the fuel uplift from Rio Gallegos, the aircraft was towed to the runway with engines started once in position!!  The return flight, direct to Buenos Aires, departed Auckland 07 September 1981.

Less than 6 months later, in April 1982, Argentina invaded the British colony of Falkland Islands and as a member of the Commonwealth NZ placed an embargo on the airline and its flights were cancelled.  The suspension in services was from 05 April 1982 and flights resumed on a fortnightly basis from 18 December 1984. 

Records show LV-OOZ, a Boeing 747-287B, operated Rio Gallegos-Auckland-Sydney-Auckland-Buenos Aires 09 December 1988, this being the first foray on the Tasman sectors.

The Boeing 747 was phased out of the Auckland schedule scene from 1999 with the introduction of Airbus A340-211 aircraft, the first of these being LV-ZPJ delivered to the airline on 04 June of that year and making its first Auckland visit on 26 June arriving direct from Buenos Aires and then heading onto Sydney.

Airbus A340-211 LV-ZPJ arriving at Auckland 02 June 2000, MRC photo

Airbus A340-211 LV-ZPO short finals at Auckland 24 August 2000, MRC photo

Above and below - Airbus A340-211 LV-ZPJ arriving at Auckland 23 March 2010, MRC photo

Flights were again suspended for the second half of 2001 and there were no services between 07 June and 10 December 2001 by which time the Airbus A340 had been introduced.  

In 2007 Aerolineas took delivery of Airbus A340-300's and it wasn't until 03 February 2010 when the first of these, LV-BMT, was used to substitute for the regular -200 series service to Auckland and Sydney.

Late 2011 / early 2012 Aerolineas procured additional -300 aircraft from SE Asia and two of these, LV-CSD and LV-CSE ferried via Auckland.  LV-CSD, ex B-HXM, arrived at Auckland 20 December 2011 from Hong Kong and departed 22 December for Buenos Aires.   LV-CSE, ex B-HXN, arrived at Auckland 08 January 2012 from Xiamen and departed the next day for Buenos Aires.   LV-CSD operated its first trip through Auckland commercially on 25 February 2012 and LV-CSE on 31 March 2012. 

LV-ZPX and LV-CSD make for a fantastic record shot at Auckland 20 December 2011, photo supplied. 

LV-CSD at Auckland 22 December 2011, Wayne G photo

The carrier is not completely disappearing from the region as services will now operate direct from Buenos Aires to Sydney and back and this may see the occasional unexpected tech-stop at either Christchurch or Auckland as they battle the prevailing westerly winds across the southern ocean.

The final flights on 30 June 2012 were operated by Airbus A340-313 LV-CSE flying as AR1182 Buenos Aires-Auckland-Sydney and AR1183 Sydney-Auckland-Buenos Aires.  As was a trade mark for the South American carrier, the flights operated some 2 hours late!

LV-CSE arriving at Auckland 30 June 2012

Air New Zealand will operate All Black Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKQ to Buenos Aires in September supporting the All Blacks rugby team on a visit to Argentina. 

MRC Aviation would like to sincerely thank Falcon135 and 3rd Level NZ for their assistance in bringing these details together.

LV-ZRA at Auckland 14 June 2012, MRC photo

LV-OOZ at Auckland 13 December 2003, VJ photo

Global 5000 B-KEZ

Marking its first visit to Australasia today was the arrival at Auckland of TAG Aviation (Asia) Global 5000 B-KEZ as "Tagjet 26".  The Global 5000 was delivered to the Hong Kong based operator in November 2011 and arrived this morning from Manila.

MRC photos

Beechjet 400 VH-MGC

Sydney based Beechjet 400 VH-MGC made a rare appearance over NZ skies with an 0240 local time arrival into Wellington 29 June from Bali via Darwin, Mount Isa and Sydney.  It departed Wellington some 12 hours later for Queenstown and Sydney.   The last record we have for VH-MGC visiting NZ was a night turnaround at Auckland in May 2010.

Michael L photos

Auckland Overnighter

Making a one night visit to Auckland was the newest Globemaster III of the RAAF, A41-210.  It arrived 27 June from Amberley and Richmond and departed this morning for Hickam/Honolulu, no doubt in support of NZ personnel involved with exercise RIMPAC 2012.

A41-210 was official handed over to the RAAF at Long Beach, California in September 2011 and the aircraft arrived at Amberley from Hickam on 19 September.

Thanks to Colin Hunter for "chilling" out at Auckland to get these shots of her departing in the stiff southwest breeze.

AIRWORK NZ BOEING 737-219C ZK-NQC TAKE OFF - HAMILTON

Jetstream Shuffling

As mentioned across at 3rd Level NZ, Jetstream 32EP ZK-ECR departed NZ earlier this month on delivery to Armenia.

Balancing the NZ Jetstream population was the arrival at Wellington 23 June of an ex NZ based machine, Jetstream 32EP VH-OTH nee ZK-ECN.  It is understood the aircraft will become ZK registered and operator passenger charter services.

Pretty quiet out there...........

Not a lot of activity in the skies over NZ at present with only one visiting bizjet in recent days, that being Australian based Citation X VH-RCA.  It arrived at Wellington from Sydney 25 June and made a day trip to Napier 26 June.  Over the last weekend it noted on operations around Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, in support of search efforts after the sinking of a vessel carrying boat people from Indonesia.

Thanks again to Michael L for catching this sleek machine as it departed Wellington 26 June.

Star Alliance turns 15

The global airline alliance "Star" celebrated its 15th anniversary last week and to mark the occasion Air New Zealand's Star logo Jet ZK-OJH was adorned with a special decal and shown below.

Thanks to FNQ Skies blog for this photo taken at Cairns.

For more on the anniversary see here

Airbus A320 ZK-OJK re-enters service

Air NZ introduced Airbus A320-200 ZK-OJK back into passenger service on Friday 22 June with the aircraft operating from Christchurch to Wellington and back as NZ358/367.  The following day it flew Christchurch-Nadi-Wellington-Nadi-Christchurch as the airline commenced its seasonal flights to Fiji.

Thanks to Zane for this nice shot of ZK-OJK arriving at Christchurch from Sydney 24 June and he notes the slightly smaller Koru on the tail.

For more on ZK-OJK visit here

Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCK

Today, 15 years ago, Air New Zealand took delivery of Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCK (26971) with the aircraft touching down at Auckland as NZ6300 direct from Paine Field, Seattle.

It entered service on 28 June as NZ89 to Brisbane and continued onto Bangkok as NZ71.

The arrival of ZK-NCK to the Air New Zealand fleet saw the departure of Boeing 767-204ER ZK-NBI.
ZK-NBI underwent end of lease activity at Christchurch and it was test flown on 29 June before flying to Auckland the next day as NZ6704.   It was cancelled from the ZK register and became EC-GOJ for its delivery flight to Air Europa with the first leg flown on 03 July from Auckland to Honolulu as AEA001.
ZK-NBI now flies for Star Air as OY-SRK following a conversion to a freighter in 2005. 

ZK-NCK departing Auckland 11/11/11, MRC photos

Air NZ returns To Bali

Following their announcement in February this year, Air NZ recommenced seasonal flights between Auckland and Bali today utilising Boeing 767-300 equipment on a twice weekly basis.   Flights depart Auckland on Tuesday and Saturday evenings and return to Auckland on the evening of Wednesday and Sunday through until mid October.   The first service, NZ245, was operated by ZK-NCK.

Air NZ first flew to Bali/Denpasar in 1990 using Boeing 767-200's with the flights then continuing to Singapore.

Yet another bizjet departure

Perhaps a sign of the times?  Yet another NZ based bizjet is leaving the region with Citation Mustang

ZK-PGA departing our shores today for the mainland USA with first stops being Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Bankstown. 

ZK-PGA/2 entered the NZ register on 20 July 2009 with NZ Jet Charters, Auckland having arrived at Wellington on 14 July 2009 from Bankstown via Sydney and Norfolk Island registered VH-SJP.  It first recorded flight under its ZK markings was on 23 July 2009 when it flew from Wellington to Auckland.  On 11 October 2010 the registered operator changed to Pacific Jets of Christchurch however the aircraft remained a resident at Auckland and was available for charter through  Pacific Jets.

The departure of ZK-PGA leaves Pacific Jets with just Citationjet CJ3+ ZK-TBM.

During its time in NZ, ZK-PGA is known to have visited the following (in order visited):

Whakatane, Hamilton, Rotorua, Queenstown, Timaru, Christchurch, Hastings, Wanganui, Woodbourne, New Plymouth, Kerikeri, Napier, Kaitaia, Norfolk Island, Noumea, Port Vila, Paraparaumu, Wellington, Tauranga, Dunedin, Whangarei, Taupo, Nelson, Manapouri, Coolangatta, Sydney, Wanaka, Lord Howe Island, Bankstown, Essendon, Launceston, Hobart and Masterton!

Above and below at Auckland 23 July 2009, Wayne G photos

 

Bizjet departures

Global Express N1DS departed Auckland for Easter Island just on sunset 15 June.

Arriving at Auckland 14 June, MRC photo

United States Marine Corp Gulfstream 4/C20G 165153 departed Wellington for Pago Pago and Kaneohe Bay as "Ghost 53" 15 June.

Departing Wellington 12 June, Michael L photo

For some info on a couple of international departures today (15June) please check out J32 ZK-ECR and N9099Z/ZK-ETX.

RAAF Hercules A97-002

Royal Australian Air Force C130 Hercules A97-002 arrived at Wellington from Richmond 14 June and overnighted before departing mid afternoon 15 June.

Thanks to Michael L for the photo

Vincent's Whisper

Vincent Aviation's BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO departed Wellington early this morning for Hokitika and then flew a group to the Field Days event at Hamilton.  It will return over the reverse route this evening.

ZK-ECO had the Vincent decals added in March of this year but has spent much of the time between then and now working in Australia and only returned to Wellington on 27 May making Hokitika only the third NZ centre to see the aircraft in its new colours after Wellington and Queenstown.

Peter B braved the frosty West Coast morning to catch ZK-ECO at Hokitika, thanks!

And Wayne G visited a gloomy, wet Hamilton for its arrival!

All Wrapped Up!

Vincent Aviation's Jetstream 32 ZK-LFW (ex VH-OTR) parked outside the operator's hanger at Wellington 08 June 2012 in its novel Life Flight scheme and officially launched at a function at the Life Flight hanger on 14 June 2012 having flown its first flight as ZK-LFW mid afternoon.

TV3 news article here

Buses on a Blue Dome Day

Much of the "long haul" activity at Auckland is now flown with Airbus variants, today it was the turn of the 340 series.  It was good to catchup with Aerolineas as they near the end of operations at Auckland.

Boeings on a Blue Dome Day

A cracker winter day at Auckland 14 June afforded a great opportunity to grab some shots of the comings and goings on a regular day: