Air Auckland facts for kids

Air Auckland was a small airline based in New Zealand. It used to fly from Ardmore Airport. The company offered flights using planes, including regular trips to places like Whitianga and Great Barrier Island. Before 2018, it was known as Flight Hauraki. The airline stopped flying on May 31, 2023.

A Look Back: Air Auckland's Story

Starting as Flight Hauraki

Flight Hauraki Limited began on March 17, 2008. It was connected to a company called MDR Aviation Ltd. This company focused on renting and bringing in aircraft.

In 2010, Flight Hauraki started offering flights. They had charter services, which means you could hire a plane for your group. They also had sightseeing tours. These flights started from the Salt Air terminal at North Shore Aerodrome. They used planes like the Cessna 172 and Cessna 207. These planes were owned by MDR Aviation Ltd.

Expanding Services

In March 2012, the airline took over some services from Air Discovery. This included flights from Waiheke Island to Auckland Airport. They also took over sightseeing tours and flights from Great Barrier Island to Auckland.

Later in 2012, Flight Hauraki took over Salt Air's 'Xpress' service. This service flew from Kerikeri and Whangarei to North Shore. It was special because it used the Northern Busway to take passengers to Auckland city. This helped avoid traffic. However, not many people used this service. So, it was stopped in February 2013, after less than three months.

Moving Bases and New Routes

In 2014, the airline moved its main base to Waiheke Island. Its smaller base moved to Ardmore. From Ardmore, they started an "Island Hopper" service. This service offered two return flights each day. It went from Ardmore to Waiheke Island and then to Great Barrier Island. Flight Hauraki also started many daily flights to Waiheke Island when people asked for them. They had planes ready at each location.

In 2015, the founder, Paul McSherry, sold the company. It was bought by the New Zealand Aviation Group Limited. The new owners decided to focus more on flights for tourists.

The airline changed its name in 2018. It became Air Auckland.

A Cessna 172 plane at Ardmore in 2019. It used to be Flight Hauraki's, but now has Air Auckland's name.

The Planes They Flew

Air Auckland used the following types of aircraft:

• 2 Cessna 172
• 1 Cessna 206

Where They Flew

Air Auckland flew to many places, including:

• Ardmore
• North Shore Airport
• Great Barrier Island
  • Claris
  • Okiwi (flights only when requested)
• Whitianga
• Coromandel
• Pauanui
• Taupō
• Anywhere on the North Island in New Zealand