# List of defunct airlines of New Zealand

This is a list of defunct airlines of New Zealand.
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z
* See also
* References
| Airline | IATA | ICAO | Callsign | Commenced operations | Ceased operations | Notes |
| A ||||||||
| Adastra Aviation | | | | 1966 | 1971 | Established as Adastra in 1953. Acquired by James Aviation. Operated Cessna 185, Piper Apache |
| Aerial Charter (Southland) | | | | 1976 | 1982 | Operated Piper Twin Comanche |
| Air Albatross | | | | 1981 | 1985 | Operated Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner |
| Air Auckland | | HKI | HAURAKI | 2008 | 2023 | |
| Air Cargo New Zealand | KC | KIC | | 1997 | 1997 | |
| Air Central (1982) | | | | 1982 | 1983 | Founded by Peter Matich. Established as Air Central in 1966. Merged into Eagle Airways |
| Air Charter Timaru | | | | 1979 | 1980 | Renamed Air Timaru |
| Air Coromandel | | | | 1993 | 2003 | Merged into Great Barrier Airlines. Operated Cessna 172, Cessna 207, GAF Nomad, BN-2 Islander |
| Air Direct | | | | 1993 | 1998 | Operated Piper Aztec |
| Air Discovery | | | | 2005 | 2012 | Founded by David Irvine. Operated Piper Seneca, Piper Arrow, Cessna 172, Cessna 207 |
| Air Freight NZ | OG | AFN | AIR FREIGHT | 1989 | 2016 | |
| Air Hamilton | | | | 1981 | 1984 | Founded by David Irvine. Operated Piper Seneca, Piper Arrow, Cessna 172, Beech Baron |
| Air Kaitaia | | | | 2000 | 2003 | Subsidiary of Mountain Air. Operated BN-2 Islander, Piper Aztec |
| Air Kapiti | | | | 2002 | 2003 | Operated Piper Chieftain |
| Air Marlborough | | | | 1992 | 1999 | Founded by Allan Graham. Operated Piper Seneca, Piper Arrow, GAF Nomad |
| Air National | | NTL | NATIONAL | 1988 | 2011 | |
| Air Nelson | NZ | RLK | LINK | 1979 | 2019 | Merged into parent Air New Zealand |
| Air North | GD | | | 1972 | 1977 | Merged with Akarana Air to form Nationwide Air. Operated de Havilland Heron |
| Air North Shore | | | | 1970s | 1993 | Operated Cessna 172, Cessna 206, Piper Cherokee, Partenavia P.68 |
| Air Post | | PST | POST | 1990 | 2013 | |
| Air Timaru | | | | 1980 | 1988 | Established as Air Charter Timaru in 1979. Acquired by Air Safaris. Operated Piper Navajo |
| Air Tours Kaikoura | | | | 1997 | 1999 | Established by the Kaikoura Aero Club. Merged with Whale Watch Air and renamed to Wings Over Whales. Operated GAF Nomad |
| Air Travel (NZ) Ltd | | | | 1934 | 1947 | |
| Air Wairarapa | | | | 2002 | 2003 | Operated Piper Chieftain |
| Air West Coast | | | | 2002 | 2009 | |
| Air2there | F8 | ATT | AIRTOTHERE | 2004 | 2018 | |
| Airland (NZ) | | | | 1963 | 1977 | Crop dusting. Operated Douglas DC-3, Lockheed 18-56 Lodestar |
| Akarana Air | | | | 1972 | 1978 | Established as Tasman Air Services in 1968. Merged with Air North to form Nationwide Air. Operated Piper Aztec |
| Alpine Air Services | | | | 2000 | 2005 | Founded by Charles and Helen Thompson. Operated Piper Seneca, Cessna Skylane |
| Amphibian Airways | | | | 1951 | 1961 | Merged into Ritchie Air Services. Operated Grumman Widgeon |
| Ansett New Zealand | ZQ | NZA | ANZA | 1987 | 2000 | |
| Aotearoa Airlines | | | | 1997 | 1997 | Founded by Steve and Donna Stanaway. Operated Piper Chieftain, Cessna Stationair |
| Ardmore Air Charter | | | | 1984 | 1986 | Operated Partenavia P.68, Cessna Skyhawk |
| Arrow Aviation | | | | 1922 | 1923 | Founded by Maurice ‘Buck’ Buckley. Operated Avro 504K |
| Aspiring Air | OI | | ASPIRING | 1974 | 2015 | |
| Associated Air | | | | 1982 | 1989 | Founded by Harry Jenkins. Established as Associated Aviation in 1975. Renamed to Associated Airlines |
| Associated Air Charter | | | | 1979 | 1982 | Founded by Harry Jenkins. Established as Associated Aviation in 1975. Renamed to Associated Air |
| Associated Airlines | | | | 1989 | 1998 | Founded by Harry Jenkins. Established as Associated Aviation in 1975 |
| Astral Air Services | | | | 1987 | 1991 | Subsidiary of S. M. Andrews and Associates Ltd. Operated Dornier 228, Cessna Skyhawk |
| B ||||||||
| Bay of Plenty Airways | | | | 1958 | 1961 | Founded by Alfred W. Bartlett. Established as Tauranga Air Services in 1956. Operated Cessna 182, de Havilland Dove, Aero Commander 680 |
| Bell Air (Bell-Air Executive Air Travel) | | | | 1968 | 1996 | Founded by Graeme Bell. Operated Aero Commander 500, Cessna 185, Cessna 207, Piper Aztec |
| Buckley Air | | | | 1995 | 1996 | Operated Piper Aerostar, Partenavia P.68 |
| C ||||||||
| Canterbury Aviation Company | | | | 1917 | 1923 | Founded by Henry Wigram. Operated Caudron biplane |
| Capital Air | | | | 2006 | 2009 | Renamed to Golden Bay Air |
| Capital Air Services | CN | | | 1970 | 1978 | Subsidiary of Wellington Aero Club. Renamed to James Air |
| Chatham Airlink | | | | 1996 | 1998 | Operated Fairchild Metroliner |
| CityJet | | | | 1999 | 1999 | |
| Classic Air | | CLS | | 1986 | 1986 | Renamed to Fieldair Freight. Operated Douglas DC-3 |
| Coastair | | | | 1985 | 2013 | Subsidiary of Ashburton Air Services. Operated Cessna Titan, DHC-6 Twin Otter |
| Coastal Airways | | | | 1958 | 1958 | Operated De Havilland DH.89B Dominie |
| Cook Strait Airways | | | | 1935 | 1947 | Subsidiary of Union Airways of New Zealand |
| Cookson Air | | | | 1985 | 1995 | Founded by William Bolton Cookson. Established as Cookson Airspread in 1953 |
| D ||||||||
| Dominion Airways | | | | 1929 | 1931 | Operated Desoutter Mk.II |
| E ||||||||
| Eagle Airways | NZ | EAG | EAGLE | 1969 | 2016 | |
| East Air | | | | 1984 | 1985 | Operated Piper Navajo, Partenavia P.68, Piper Chieftain |
| East Coast Airways | | | | 1935 | 1947 | Subsidiary of Union Airways of New Zealand |
| Eastern Aviation | | | | 1996 | 2000 | Rodger McCutcheon, built the Eastern Flight Centre FBO and started Eastern. Merged into NZ Aerial Mapping. Operated Piper Cheyenne, Cessna 421 |
| F ||||||||
| Fieldair | | | | 1989 | 2002 | Took over Speedlink Parcel. Operated Convair 580, Douglas DC-3 |
| Fieldair Freight | | | | 1986 | 1993 | Formed acquiring Classic Air. Operated Douglas DC-3 |
| Flight Corporation (Flightcorp) | | | | 1991 | 2011 | Operated Piper Aztec, Piper Seneca, Cessna 206, Cessna 172 |
| Flight Hauraki | | HKI | | 2008 | 2018 | |
| Float Air Picton | | | | 1974 | 1981 | Operated Lake Buccaneer, Cessna 206 |
| Fly My Sky | | | ISLAND | 2007 | 2021 | |
| flyDirect | | | | 2010 | 2010 | |
| FlyStark | | | | 2014 | 2018 | Operated Cessna 172, GippsAero GA8 Airvan |
| Foxpine Air Charter | | | | 1979 | 1993 | Operated Cessna Skyhawk, Piper Twin Comanche, Piper Seneca |
| Freedom Air | SJ | FOM | FREE AIR | 1995 | 2008 | Merged into parent Air New Zealand |
| G ||||||||
| Geyserland Airways | | | | 1969 | 1974 | Operated Aero Commander 680, Cessna 185 Involved in the legal case Airways Corp of New Zealand v Geyserland Airways Ltd |
| Gisborne Air Transport | | | | 1931 | 1933 | Operated Desoutter Mk.II, de Havilland DH.60 Moth |
| Golden Coast Airlines | | | | 1965 | 1970 | Established as Golden Coast Airways in 1960. Operated Auster J/1B Aiglet, de Havilland Tiger Moth, Cessna 180, Piper Apache, Aero Commander 500 |
| Goldfields Air | | | | 1985 | 1986 | Established as Goldfields Aviation. Operated Beech Bonanza, Piper Navajo |
| Great Barrier Airlines | | | | 1983 | 2015 | Renamed to Barrier Air |
| Great Barrier Xpress | | | | 1998 | 2008 | Renamed to Fly My Sky. Operated BN-2 Islander, Piper Aztec |
| Gulf Island Air | | | | 1992 | 1997 | Founded by George and Janet Richardson. Merged into Great Barrier Airlines. Operated Piper Cherokee, Piper Cherokee Six |
| H ||||||||
| Hercules Airlines | | | | 1985 | 1989 | Operated Bristol Freighter |
| Hibiscus Air | | | | 1981 | 1996 | Operated GAF Nomad, Piper Navajo Chieftain |
| I ||||||||
| Island Air Safaris | | | | 1984 | 1990 | Founded by Wayne Renner, Douglas Taylor and Vernon Mills. Operated Cessna 206, DHC-2 Beaver, Cessna 188 |
| J ||||||||
| James Air | | VLN | | 1978 | 1983 | Renamed from Capital Air Services then to Avcorp Commuter |
| James Air Services (James Aviation) | | | | 1949 | 1982 | Founded by Ossie James. Renamed from Adastra Aviation. Operated de Havilland Tiger Moth, DHC-2 Beaver, Douglas DC-3, Fletcher Fu 24, Lockheed Lodestar |
| Jetconnect | QF | QFA | QANTAS | 2002 | 2018 | Aircraft transferred to parent Qantas |
| K ||||||||
| K2000 Airlines | | | | 1999 | 2000 | Operated a leased Boeing 737-400 |
| King Solomon Airways | | | | 1997 | 2002 | Operated Convair 580 |
| Kiwi Regional Airlines | | KRL | REGIONAL | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Kiwi Travel Air Charters | | | | 1994 | 1995 | Renamed to Kiwi Travel International Airlines. Operated Boeing 737 |
| Kiwi Travel International Airlines | KC | KIC | | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Kiwi West Aviation | | | | 1993 | 1995 | Founded by Tony Walshs. Operated Beech Queen Air |
| Kiwiair | | | | 1985 | 1987 | Operated Piper Aztec |
| Kiwijet | | | | 2007 | 2009 | Never started operations |
| L ||||||||
| Lakeair | | | | 1971 | 1981 | Founded by Ron Fincham. Established as Lakeland Aviation. Operated Partenavia P.68, Mitsubishi MU-2 |
| M ||||||||
| Marshall's Air Transport | | | | 1957 | 1959 | Founded by Noel Marshall. Operated Cessna 180 |
| Menzies Aviation (NZ) | | | | 1990 | 1992 | Renamed to Air National |
| Mercury Air Couriers | | | | 1974 | 1976 | Founded by Allan Prince. Operated Piper Aztec |
| Mercury Airlines | | | | 1970 | 1986 | Established as Mercury Bay Aero Club's in 1948. Operated de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover, Cessna 172, Cessna 207 |
| Mid North Air | | | | 1983 | 1984 | Founded by Eugene Mortensen. Operated Aero Commander 500, Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee |
| Midland Air Services | | | | 1968 | 1974 | Established as Middle Districts Aero Club in 1963. Operated Piper Apache, Cessna 180, Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee |
| Mountain Air | | | | 1988 | 2021 | |
| Motueka Air | | | | 1979 | 1988 | Renamed to Air Nelson. Operated Piper Aztec |
| Motueka Air Services | | | | 1984 | 1987 | Operated Cessna 172, Piper Aztec |
| Mount Cook Air Services | | | | 1954 | 1961 | Established as NZ Aero Transport in 1920. Renamed to Mount Cook Airline. Operated Auster Autocrat, Hawker Siddeley HS 748 |
| Mount Cook Airline | NM | NZM | MOUNTCOOK | 1920 | 2019 | Merged into parent Air New Zealand. |
| N ||||||||
| N. B. MacDonald Services | | | | 1987 | 1993 | Founded by Neil and Josephine MacDonald. Operated Piper Seneca |
| Nationwide Air | GD | | | 1978 | 1979 | Formed by the merger of Air North and Akaran Air. Operated de Havilland Heron, Aviation Traders Carvair |
| Nationwide Aviation (NP) Ltd | | | | 1981 | 1987 | Established as Nationwide Air Taxis in 1973. Operated Piper Cherokee Six, Cessna 172, Piper Aztec, Ted Smith Aerostar |
| New Zealand National Airways Corporation | NZ | | NATIONAL | 1945 | 1978 | Merged into Air New Zealand |
| Newmans Air | NY | NMA | NEWMANS | 1984 | 1987 | Rebranded as Ansett New Zealand |
| Niue Airline | FN | | | 1990 | 1992 | Serviced the Auckland-Niue run |
| North Shore Air | NS | | | 2015 | 2015 | |
| North South Aviation | | | | 1993 | 1994 | Operated Embraer Bandeirante |
| Northern Air | | | | 1995 | 1998 | Founded by Keith Madden and Dave McAlister. Operated Cessna 177, Cessna Stationair, Partenavia P.68, GAF Nomad |
| Northern Commuter Airlines | | | | 1990 | 1998 | Operated GAF Nomad, Piper Chieftain |
| NZ Aero Transport | | | | 1920 | 1954 | Renamed to Mount Cook Air Services. Operated Avro 504K, De Havilland DH-9A |
| NZ Tourist Air Travel | | | | 1955 | 1968 | Acquired by Mount Cook Airline. Operated Cessna 180, Cessna 206, De Havilland Dominie, Grumman Widgeon |
| O ||||||||
| Origin Pacific Airways | QO | OGN | ORIGIN | 1997 | 2006 | |
| Outdoor Aviation | | | | 1983 | 1984 | Founded by Dave Phillips and Cliff Marchant. Renamed to SkyFerry. Operated Cessna 172, Cessna 185, Cessna Caravan |
| P ||||||||
| Pacific Blue Airlines | DJ | PBN | BLUEBIRD | 2003 | 2011 | Rebranded as Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) |
| Pacifica Air | | | | 1987 | 1989 | Founded by Cliff Skeggs. Operated Beech Super King Air, Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner, Piper Navajo Chieftain, Piper Aztec |
| Pasifika Air | | | | 2020 | 2021 | Founded by Mike Pero, Never started operations |
| Parakai Aviation | | | | 1995 | 1996 | Founded by Des Grant and Peter Clulow. Renamed to Trans Island Air. Operated Partenavia P.68, Cessna Skylane |
| Peninsula Air Travel | | | | 1963 | 1964 | Operated Cessna 205, Cessna 172 |
| Petersen Aviation | | | | 1957 | 1958 | Founded by Vern Petersen and Jim Bergman. Operated Mooney M20, Cessna 172, Cessna 180 |
| Phoenix Airways (NZ) | | | | 1961 | 1966 | Founded by Mervin Dunn. Acquired by Golden Coast Airlines. Operated Piper Apache |
| Pine Air | | | | 1993 | 1993 | Founded by Jim and Libby Lyver. Operated Piper Aztec |
| Pionair Adventures | | | | 1991 | 2014 | Operated Convair 580, de Havilland Dove, Douglas DC-3 |
| Port Hutt Air | | | | 1996 | 2005 | Operated Beech Queen Air |
| Q ||||||||
| Qantas New Zealand | | | | 2000 | 2001 | Operated De Havilland Canada Dash 8 |
| Queenstown – Mount Cook Airways | | | | 1935 | 1940 | |
| R ||||||||
| Ranger Air Cargo International | | | | 1974 | 1991 | Operated Douglas DC-8-33 |
| Rex Air Charter | | | | 1972 | 1986 | Operated Cessna 402 |
| Rex Aviation | | | | 1947 | 2000 | Franchise with Ansett New Zealand branded as Tranzair in 1989. Operated Cessna Caravan, Embraer Bandeirante, Fokker F27 Friendship, BAe Jetstream |
| Ritchie Air Services | | | | 1960 | 1964 | Founded by Ian Ritchie. Merged into NZ Tourist Air Travel. Operated Cessna 180, Cessna Super Skywagon, de Havilland Tiger Moth, de Havilland Dominie |
| Rotorua Aerial Charter | | | | 1967 | 1969 | Renamed Geyersland Airways. Operated de Havilland DH.89B Dominie, Cessna 172, Aero Commander 500 |
| Rural Aviation 1963 | | | | 1963 | 1968 | Operated Cessna AGwagon, Douglas DC-3 |
| S ||||||||
| Safe Air | | | | 1966 | 1990 | |
| Sea Bee Air | CB | | | 1976 | 1979 | Operated Grumman Widgeon, Grumman Goose |
| Skybus | | | | 1970s | 1970s | Did not start operations |
| SkyFerry | | | | 1984 | 1991 | Established as Outdoor Aviation. Operated BN-2 Islander, Trislander, Beech Queen Air, Cessna 172, Cessna 185, Cessna 206 |
| South Island Airways | | | | 1952 | 1956 | Division of Airwork (N.Z.) Ltd. Operated de Havilland DH.89B Dominie |
| South Pacific Air Charters | | | | 1995 | 1998 | Renamed to Freedom Air International. Operated Boeing 737-300, Boeing 757 |
| South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand (SPANZ) | | | | 1960 | 1966 | |
| Southern Air (1997) | | | | 1997 | 2000 | Established as Southern Air in 1981. Acquired by South East Air and renamed to Stewart Island Flights. Operated BN-2 Islander, Cessna 172, Cessna 177 |
| Southern Cross Airfreighters | | | | 1962 | 1964 | Non-scheduled cargo services. Operated Noorduyn Norseman |
| Southern Cross Airways | | | | 1985 | 1986 | New Zealand airline with first female crew. Operated Cessna 421, Partenavia P.68 |
| Southern Scenic Air Services | | | | 1948 | 1965 | Founded by Fred Lucas and Bill Hewitt. Established as Southern Scenic Air Trips in 1947. Merged into NZ Tourist Air Travel. Operated Auster J/1B Aiglet, Auster Autocrat, Avro Anson, Percival Proctor, De Havilland DH.89B Dominie |
| Southern World Airlines | | | | 1990 | 1991 | Cargo carrier. Operated Douglas DC-8 |
| SouthFlight Aviation | | | | 1992 | 1986 | Merged with Air Tours Kaikoura and renamed to Wings Over Whales. Operated Piper Aztec, Cessna 172, Cessna 210, BN-2 Islander, Piper Seneca |
| Stewart Island Air Services | | | | 1976 | 1981 | Rebranded as Southern Air in 1981 and Southern Air (1997) in 1997. Renamed to Stewart Island Flights |
| Straits Air Freight Express | | | | 1950 | 1966 | Renamed Safe Air Limited |
| T ||||||||
| Tasman Air Services | | | | 1968 | 1969 | Operated Piper Navajo |
| Tasman Pacific Airlines | ZQ | | | 2000 | 2001 | Merged into Qantas New Zealand. Operated BAe Jetstream |
| Tasmanair | | | | 1969 | 1973 | Operated Piper Navajo |
| Taupo Air Services | | | | 1978 | 1993 | Founded by Peter Matich. Operated Cessna Skywagon, Cessna Cardinal, Cessna Skyhawk, Piper Super Cub |
| Tauranga Air Services | | | | 1978 | 1993 | Renamed to Bay of Plenty Airways. Operated Cessna 182, de Havilland Dove, Aero Commander 680 |
| Te Kahu Airlines | | | | 1997 | 1998 | Operated by VIP Air with Piper Aztec, Piper Chieftain |
| TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited) | TE | | TEAL | 1940 | 1965 | Rebranded as Air New Zealand |
| The Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club | | | | 1928 | 2010 | Second aero club being incorporated on 12 November 1928. Operated Desoutter Mk.II, Piper Cherokee, Piper Seneca |
| Tikapa Air | | | | 1992 | 1995 | Founded by Monique Van Dooren. Operated Cessna 177 |
| Trans Island Airways | | | | 1956 | 1959 | Operated DH.89, Beech D18S, Lockheed L.10 Electra |
| TranzGlobal | | | | 1994 | 1999 | Freight carrier. Operated Embraer Bandeirante |
| U ||||||||
| Union Airways of New Zealand | | | | 1936 | 1947 | |
| United Aviation | | | | 1984 | 1997 | Founded by John Plank. Took over N. B. MacDonald Services. Operated Beech Baron, Piper Chieftain |
| United Pacific Airlines | | | | 1981 | 1988 | Operated Beech King Air, Partenavia P.68 |
| Utah Williamson Burnett | | | | 1963 | 1968 | Operated Grumman G-73 Mallard |
| V ||||||||
| Vincent Aviation | BF | VAL | VINCENT | 1990 | 2014 | |
| VIP Air Charter | | | | 1991 | 1997 | Operated Piper Aztec, Piper Navajo Chieftain |
| Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) | VA | VOZ | VOZ/VELOCITY | 2011 | 2015 | |
| W ||||||||
| Waiheke Air | | | | 1986 | 1986 | Established as Rex Air Charter in 1972 |
| Wairarapa Airlines | 2W | | | 1981 | 1996 | Operated Mitsubishi MU-2, Partenavia P.68, Piper Navajo Chieftain |
| Waterwings Airways | | | | 1983 | 2006 | Operated Cessna 206, Cessna 207, GAF Nomad |
| Welair | | | | 1992 | 1999 | Operated Cessna 182, Piper Navajo, Piper Aztec, Piper Chieftain |
| West Coast Airways | | | | 1956 | 1967 | Operated de Havilland Dragon Rapide, Cessna 180, Auster Aiglet |
| Westland Air | | | | 1969 | 1973 | Founded by Nash and Elisabeth Taurau. Taken over by Coast Air Charter. Operated Cessna 172, Cessna 185, AESL Airtourer, Beech Musketeer |
| Westland Flying Service | | | | 1976 | 1986 | Founded by Norm Bishop and Pat Pascoe. Operated Piper Cherokee, Cessna 172, Cessna 320 Skyknight, Cessna 402 |
| Whale Watch Air | | | | 1997 | 1999 | Merged with Air Tours Kaikoura to form Wings Over Whales. Operated Piper Navajo |