Sunair will resume flights to Great Barrier Island next week, confirming its return to the route after more than four months on the ground. The restart coming just in time for the summer and Christmas holiday period.
Tickets are available online. The airline will operate to the island on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with flights running from Tauranga, Whitianga and Whangārei into Claris.
Sunair’s grounding began on July 10 after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) raised concerns around maintenance documentation and airworthiness. What was initially a 10-day suspension extended to more than four months. “The worst thing you can do to an airline is put it on the ground,” Sunair chief executive Doug Roberts said.
Roberts described the process as “very protracted and very tough on the business in terms of what was required”, and said parts of the case are still not fully resolved. The airline’s owner and chief engineer have challenged aspects of the CAA’s findings, including the suspension of an engineer’s licence. “They suspended his licence because of what they believed were deficiencies.” An independent review panel is expected to deliver its decision before Christmas.
The CAA said its actions were taken to ensure aviation safety and that operators must complete required work to its satisfaction. “Our role is to facilitate the operation of a safe and secure aviation system in New Zealand, and we will not compromise on that.”
Sunair expects the Great Barrier schedule to expand beyond the initial three-day operation, as the summer rush picks up.
