Short Term Lease of Barrier Air Aircraft - Air Chathams
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Short Term Lease of Barrier Air Aircraft

To ensure essential air connectivity for the Eastern Bay of Plenty and the Chatham Islands is maintained while we have an aircraft under maintenance, we are leasing an aircraft from our friends at Barrier Air to operate selected flights to and from Whakatāne between Tuesday 27 January and Thursday 19 February. These flights will be operated by Barrier Air using their own Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft and crew.

What will be different from a standard Air Chathams flight? 

The Cessna Grand Caravan is a single-engine turboprop-powered aircraft with seating for 12 passengers in a 1-2 configuration in an unpressurised cabin. For more details see https://www.barrierair.co.nz/about-us/fleet/. 

The aircraft is crewed by a single pilot, and there is no flight attendant. The flights will operate in accordance with all applicable New Zealand Civil Aviation Rules for medium-sized aircraft flown under the Instrument Flight Rules. Barrier Air is an air operator certified by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, and like Air Chathams maintains an excellent safety standard. The Cessna Grand Caravan is the leading single-engine aircraft used in airline operations worldwide, and the type has been used successfully in airline service in New Zealand for over two decades. 

The cabin is smaller than what passengers will be familiar with on our Saab 340, with no overhead lockers. Carry-on baggage which is unable to fit under the seats will be carried in a compartment immediately behind the passenger cabin. There are no toilet facilities on board, and passengers will not be able to move around the cabin during their journey. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer any drink or snack service on these flights. 

Flight times between Auckland and Whakatāne on the Cessna Grand Caravan will be 1hour, which is approximately 20 minutes longer compared to those operated by our Saab 340. 

How will I know if my flight is operated by Barrier Air? 

When booking online, you will see the flag “Operated by Barrier Air” on flights operated under this lease agreement. When booking through our call centre you will be advised if the flights you are booking are operated by Barrier Air. 

We are contacting passengers who have existing bookings on flights which are now going to be operated by Barrier Air, and will permit changes to alternative services operated by Air Chathams without penalty if they do not wish to travel on these flights. 

Where do I check in? 

Check in will continue to be at the Air Chathams check-in desks in Auckland and Whakatāne. 

Who do I contact regarding my trip? 

Although these flights are operated by Barrier Air, all bookings will be with Air Chathams. If you have any questions regarding your travel, or if you wish to book, please contact Air Chathams directly through our website or phone. Barrier Air is not able to handle any passenger requests regarding these flights and will not have access to any passenger information prior to the operation of the flight.