On Saturday, February 4th, Air New Zealand took off from Invercargill Airport with 30 children onboard as the carrier chartered a special flight as part of Koru Care Southland. The charitable trust works with children suffering from various illnesses and disabilities and organizes various activities and outings for the children, and this time, the children got airborne.

Air NZ ATR IG
Photo: lax24r / Air New Zealand

A trip of a lifetime

For families and their children, the change of scenery was a great way to lift spirits. This outing included afternoon tea at the airport before boarding an Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 for a scenic flight over the surrounding region. Koru Care Southland committee member Pauline Gillan commented to the Otago Daily Times about the occasion:

"They’re often busy with the child that’s suffering the illness or has the chronic condition, so to take the extended family on this is a wonderful experience."

IVC Airport
Photo: Invercargill Airport

Southernmost controlled airport in the Commonwealth.

Invercargill Airport (IVC), located at the bottom of New Zealand's South Island, is the southernmost controlled airport in the Commonwealth and the country's twelfth busiest airport. Built on reclaimed land from the Waihopai Estuary in 1938, the airport was once plagued by floods and closed for two months in 1942 until extensive remedial works took place. Fast forward to today, the airport operates solely as a domestic airport. However, it can welcome international flights through a setup in a nearby hangar.

Upgraded in 2019 to accommodate jet services, the airport has a screening area for departing passengers. The airport has a customs area in a nearby hangar that can be utilized for international services but is rarely used. The ad-hoc international setup is for occurrences when nearby Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) is inoperable.

GCMAP IVC
Source: GCMap

Taking off for Stewart Island

Invercargill is the gateway to Stewart Island, with access to the island by air or ferry. Stewart Island flights operate multiple daily to Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), with the largest settlement, Oban, home to around 500 people. Tourists flock there for its abundant wildlife, hiking, hunting, and fishing.

Flight_to_Stewart_Island_(8604764463)
Photo: Ron Knight via Wikimedia Commons

Air New Zealand also operates a robust schedule to the southern airport. Turboprop services are operated by the carriers Bombardier Q300 DHC-8 Dash 8 and ATR 72-600 to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) and Wellington International Airport (WLG). In contrast, the Airbus A320 operates directly to Auckland International Airport (AKL), the longest domestic flight in New Zealand at two hours. The airport is also home to the carriers 'Koru Lounge' offering a range of food and drinks for airline members.

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Lending a hand for antarctic operations

The airport is occasionally visited for Antarctic flight diversion training by the United States ANG, Australian RAAF, Italy's Aeronautica Militare, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force RNZAF. Visitors have included the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, and C-5 Galaxy.

Sources: Otago Daily Times

  • Air New Zealand Tile
    Air New Zealand
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    NZ/ANZ
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, Wellington Airport
    Year Founded:
    1965
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Greg Foran
    Country:
    New Zealand
    Region:
    Oceania