Air Nelson

Air Nelson was a regional passenger airline in New Zealand and an operating company within the Air New Zealand Group. It focused on connecting smaller New Zealand cities with major airports using regional aircraft, often as part of Air New Zealand's wider network and connecting services. The company generally operated within the Air New Zealand brand system rather than as a major standalone consumer airline. Air Nelson's separate operating identity ended when Air New Zealand consolidated its regional airline operations.

Air Nelson was established in 1978 to provide regional air services in New Zealand. Operating from regional airports including Nelson, it used aircraft suited to short domestic routes and linked smaller communities with major aviation hubs. The airline later became an important part of Air New Zealand's regional network, with services largely integrated into Air New Zealand's sales, flight-number and connecting-service systems. As Air New Zealand consolidated its regional airline operations, Air Nelson ceased operating as a separate airline. In 2019, its operations were integrated into Air New Zealand, ending its independent corporate operating identity.

• 2019

  Merged into Air New Zealand

  Air Nelson's independent operations were integrated into Air New Zealand's regional operations.

• 1978

  Founded

  Air Nelson was founded and began providing regional domestic air services in New Zealand.

A domestic regional airline operator under the Air New Zealand Group

• passenger aviation

  Domestic regional passenger services

  Air Nelson's core business was domestic regional passenger aviation in New Zealand, connecting regional airports with major hubs on short routes. Its services were largely integrated into Air New Zealand's network and sales system rather than marketed as a major standalone airline.