Eagle Airways

Infobox Airline
airline = Eagle Airways


image_size = 250
IATA = NZ
ICAO = EAG
callsign = EAGLE
founded = 1969
commenced =
ceased =
hubs =

*Auckland International Airport
*Christchurch International Airport
*Hamilton International Airport
*Wellington International Airport
*Woodbourne Airport

secondary_hubs =

*Gisborne Airport
*Kaitaia Airport
*Kerikeri Airport
*Rotorua Airport
*Taupo Airport
*Tauranga Airport
*Wanganui Airport
*Whakatane Airport
*Whangarei Airport

focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance = Star Alliance
subsidiaries =
fleet_size = 18
destinations = 21
parent = Air New Zealand (100%)
company_slogan = Be Everywhere, Do Everything, Together never failing to impress our customer
headquarters = Hamilton, New Zealand
key_people = Doug Roberts (General Manager)
website = http://www.eagleair.co.nz/

Eagle Airways is a regional airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand with ten crew bases from Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands to Blenheim in the Marlborough region. It is wholly owned by Air New Zealand and operates regional services under the Air New Zealand Link brand. In addition to the seven crew bases the airline has hubs at Auckland International Airport, Christchurch International Airport and Wellington International Airportcite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 75 | date= 2007-04-03] .

History

Eagle Flying Academy

The airline was established and started operations in 1969. It grew out of the Eagle Flying Academy owned and operated by Malcom Campbell. In 1973, it became a commercial airline flying routes around the North Island of New Zealand using the twin engined Beechcraft Baron aircraft, capitalising on provincial routes not serviced by the national airline of the time, NAC.

Turbine power

1976 saw the introduction of 9 seater Piper Chieftain aircraft. During 1979, Eagle moved into turbine operations with the Embraer Bandeirante aircraft and later, the Fairchild Metroliner aircraft.

Air New Zealand's 19-seat operator

A fleet upgrade beginning in 2001 has seen the wholesale adoption of the Raytheon Beech 1900D Airliner 19-seat aircraft of which 16 were ordered. ZK-EAP (MSN: UE-439) was the last Beechcraft 1900 series aircraft to be produced by Raytheon, closing the production line in October 2002.

In 2006, route development and increased air travellers market saw the need for a 17th aircraft, and in 2007 ZK-EAQ came on line as the 17th Beech 1900D for Eagle.

On July 22, 2008, Eagle Aiways welcomed their 18th Beech 1900 to their fleet, creating more depth to the airline's fleet. Eagle has hinted new routes with the additional aircraft, such as Masterton-Auckland. [ [http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4197216a34.html Wairarapa flights set for takeoff - New Zealand's source for travel news on Stuff.co.nz ] ]

Destinations

Eagle Airways operates the following domestic services [ [http://www.eagleair.co.nz/default.asp?ShowCat=2&CategoryID=19 Eagle Airways destinations] ] :
*Auckland to Gisborne, Hamilton, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Masterton (Commencing 16 February 2009) Rotorua, Tauranga, Taupo, Wanganui, Whangarei, Whakatane and Blenheim.
*Christchurch to Hokitika, Oamaru, Wanaka and Blenheim.
*Hamilton to Palmerston North and Nelson
*Palmerston North to Nelson
*Wellington to Gisborne, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Taupo, Timaru, Westport, Whangarei, Whakatane and Blenheim.

Fleet

The Eagle Airways fleet includes the following aircraft (at July 2008):

*18 Raytheon Beech 1900D Airliner [http://www.airnz.co.nz/aboutus/fleet/default.htm Air New Zealand Fleet Page]
*BAe Jetstream 32 aircraft from Air National are chartered to supplement the services operated by the Raytheon aircraft.

Incidents and accidents

On June 18, 2007, a Beech 1900D belonging to Eagle Airways was forced to make an emergency langing at Woodbourne Airport in Blenhiem after the landing gear failed to lower. The aircraft was flying from Timaru to Wellington and landed at Woodbourne because there was less traffic. Nobody on board was injured, and the plane only suffered minor damage.

On September 25, 2007, a defective undercarriage found during a routine inspection of another Beech 1900D led to the cancellation of 60 flights the following day as the airline's entire fleet was grounded for ultrasound inspection and replacement of defective components. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10466025 Fault grounds NZ airline fleet] ]

On February 8, 2008, two pilots of a flight from Blenheim to Christchurh chartered by Eagle Airways (operated by Air National) were stabbed in a hijacking attempt. The pilots survived the attack which and landed safely at Christchurch International Airport. A 33-year old Somalian woman was arrested in the case. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491291 Knife-wielding hijacker demanded to be flown to Australia] ]

External links

* [http://www.eagleair.co.nz Eagle Airways]

References

Airlines of New Zealand