New Zealand's Invivo Air debuts early 1Q23

New Zealand seals air service agreement with ASEAN countries

New Zealand successfully concluded negotiations for an air services agreement with ASEAN during a final round of talks in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on September 13.

The ASEAN-New Zealand Air Services Agreement (ANZ-ASA) will allow airlines from signatory countries to operate more passenger and/or cargo services between and beyond ASEAN and New Zealand. ASEAN member states include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Per Protocol 1 of the ANZ-ASA, eligible airlines can operate between ASEAN countries and New Zealand with unlimited 3rd and 4th freedom traffic rights. In addition, eligible airlines will be able to fly up to seven weekly services with 5th freedom traffic rights in addition to existing bilateral entitlements between individual ASEAN states and New Zealand for one year from the date of entry into force of the agreement and up to 14 weekly services with 5th freedom traffic rights in addition to existing bilateral entitlements after one year from the date of entry into force of the agreement.

Tom Forster, Manager of Economic Regulation at New...

Pratt & Whitney engine issues impact multiple airlines

Wizz Air Holdings is one of several airline groups grappling with significant numbers of A320neo Family-type aircraft going out of service for an extended period after RTX Corporation, owner of Pratt & Whitney, told customer airlines earlier this week that approximately 3,000 geared turbofan (GTF) engines fitted to in-service aircraft will need to be inspected.

In an advisory published on September 11, RTX expanded the number of PW1100 GTF engines needing inspection. The engines are used on A320neo family-type aircraft. When it first disclosed the metal contamination issue in the Pratt & Whitney-manufactured engines in late July, RTX estimated around 1,200 motors would require inspection. That number has now grown to approximately 3,000, or over 90% of the 3,200 GTF engines presently in service.

The engine inspections, which may take as long as 60 days, will take place between 2023 and 2026 and result in around 350 aircraft being parked each annually through 2026, although RTX says that figure will peak at about 650 planes in the first half of 2024.

• Wizz...

Samoa Airways mulls fleet replacement program - report

The Samoan government is willing to support a fleet replacement program at Samoa Airways (OL, Apia Faleolo), according to a report in the Samoa Observer. The Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo, who oversees the carrier, has asked for a plan on how the fleet replacement program might work.

The small state-owned airline has three 19-passenger DHC-6-300s in its fleet, although the oldest, the 49.7-year-old 5W-STF (msn 402), has not operated since 2021 when it was grounded over corrosion issues. The remaining aircraft, 38-year-old 5W-FAW (msn 827) and 43-year-old 5W-FAY (msn 690), are both in service, according to the report and verified by flight tracking ADS-B data. Both aircraft operate the airline's timetabled flights between Apia and Pago Pago in neighbouring American Samoa.

Samoa Airways Chief Executive Officer Fauo’o Fatu Tielu says the options include stripping and rebuilding the existing aircraft; acquiring updated versions of the same type, namely DHC-6-300-Gs or DHC-6-400; or opting for another aircraft altogether.

He added that the grounded DHC-6-300, only purchased seven years ago, required...

New Zealand winery punts virtual airline

Two New Zealand winemakers have decided to launch their own virtual airline dubbed Invivo Air (Auckland International) after the same-named Auckland based winery.

A maiden flight has been punted for early 2022 from Auckland International on North Island to Queenstown on South Island in a chartered 34-seater Saab (Sweden) aircraft - presumably a S340A or S340B - but to date, details of the service remain scant.

New Zealand residents above 18 years of age keen to travel on the first flight were asked to register their details on the company website by March 31, 2022, but no further details have been released. The company was not immediately available for comment.

According to a statement late last year, the aim of what is being punted as the world’s first ”winery airline” is to promote domestic tourism following the re-opening in December 2021 of Auckland’s borders after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Half of the seats on the maiden flight would be complimentary with priority given to Auckland hospitality and tourism...