Freedom Air was a New Zealand low-cost airline which operated from December 1995 until March 2008. It operated scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Australia and Fiji, and charter services within New Zealand. It was a subsidiary of Air New Zealand.
History
Freedom Air was established in 1995 as a response to the commencement of discount services between New Zealand and Australia by Kiwi Travel International Airlines and started operations on 8 December 1995 with a single Boeing 757-200.The Freedom Formula Australian Aviation issue 204 April 2004 pages 47/48Air NZ's competitors on domestic market Television New Zealand 23 August 2007 It was formed as South Pacific Air Charters by Mount Cook Airline and renamed Freedom Air International in 1998.
In May 2001, Freedom Air begain operating domestic services between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.Tasman Pacific into receivership - Qantas & Freedom launch NZ domestic services Australian Aviation issue 173 June 2001 page 81 By 2004, its fleet had expanded to five Boeing 737-300s,Freedom Air’s fifth aircraft takes to the skies Freedom Air 10 December 2004 and it was providing direct non-stop services to the Australian cities of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne from Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Palmerston North. Flights to Fiji were also operated.
In June 2006, the aircraft from Freedom Air were combined with Air New Zealand's fleet of Airbus A320-200s under the air operator's certificate of Zeal320. When the airline ceased Zeal320 had one aircraft painted in Freedom Air livery.Details on AviationPage New Zealand
Air New Zealand ceased all Freedom Air operations from the end of March 2008.
Destinations Throughout its existence, Freedom Air flew to six destinations in New Zealand, five in Australia and one in Fiji. When the airline shut down on 30 March 2008, all services were replaced by Air New Zealand flights, except flights out of Palmerston North, which left the airport without any international services. Flights to Nadi and Newcastle were withdrawn prior to 2008.
Brisbane – Brisbane Airport Gold Coast – Gold Coast Airport Melbourne – Melbourne Airport Newcastle – Newcastle AirportFreedom Air flies into Newcastle ABC News 15 December 2001 Sydney – Sydney Airport
Nadi – Nadi International AirportFreedom Air Press Release – Freedom Air Wellington – Fiji Service Takes Flight , 11 February 2005
Auckland – Auckland Airport (Hub) Christchurch – Christchurch Airport Dunedin – Dunedin Airport Hamilton – Hamilton Airport Palmerston North – Palmerston North Airport Wellington – Wellington Airport
Fleet
Freedom Air had operated the following aircraft: + Freedom Air fleetAircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotesAirbus A320-200132005Freedom Air announces it will introduce, really big seats Freedom Air 12 August 200520083 leased from Air New ZealandBoeing 737-2002200120011 leased from AirworkBoeing 737-3009199620063 leased from Air New Zealand2 leased from TACA Airlines1 leased from Polynesian Airlines1 leased from TransaviaBoeing 757-200119951996Leased from Britannia Airways
References
External links
Official website