Air Chathams

Air Chathams is an airline from New Zealand that says it is the country's largest privately owned airline. It flies to regional places, including Whakatane, Whanganui, Wellington, Christchurch and the Chatham Islands. The company says it flies over New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The airline began in 1984. Craig and Marion Emeny own it. Craig first moved to the Chatham Islands as a pilot, flying between Chatham and Pitt Islands for another airline. There was no regular service between the Chathams and New Zealand, so he started his own airline.

Early work was mainly freight. The first flights carried live crayfish from Pitt Island to Chatham Island, and then on to Gisborne, in a Cessna Super Skymaster. Passengers fitted in around the cargo. Charters let islanders attend rugby matches, races and family events. Aircraft were also used for sightseeing and emergencies.

The airline says it was set up to give a remote island community the air links it needed. It describes itself as customer focused and good at solving problems. It aims for safe, efficient and sustainable results for the communities it serves across New Zealand and the Pacific.

There are three fare types. Thrifty fares are the lowest price and cannot be changed or refunded. Saver fares can be changed up to 24 hours before departure for a fee. Full Economy fares are fully flexible and refundable. Each type has its own baggage allowance, starting with one 7 kilogram carry-on bag on Thrifty fares.

Frequent travellers can buy a Multi-Pass, which the airline says can be used, changed, transferred or cancelled. A rewards scheme gives points when passengers book and fly. The airline also runs a Community Connection Fund that backs projects that help the communities it flies to.

The airline has an operations base and hangar at Auckland and a head office on the Chatham Islands. The website covers fares, baggage rules, destinations, the story of the airline and contact details.