Air Safaris

Air Safaris is a New Zealand aviation company specializing in scenic flights, charter operations, and aviation services across the South Island. Its principal base is Lake Tekapo Airport, approximately 2.8 kilometres west of the township of Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie District. The company also operates from Franz Josef, Glentanner, Twizel, and Mount Cook airports, giving it access to some of the South Island's most prominent alpine and glacial landscapes. The business began in 1970 at Mesopotamia Station, initially transporting hunters and hikers into remote mountain areas. It moved its operations to Lake Tekapo in 1974, where the surrounding high-country terrain and proximity to Aoraki / Mount Cook and the Southern Alps supported the development of a tourism-oriented aviation business. Its early fleet included the Cessna 180, followed by Cessna 185, Cessna 206, and Cessna 207 aircraft. In 1978, the company introduced Pilatus Porters equipped with skis, enabling operations from glaciers and snowfields. The arrival of the 15-seat GAF Nomad in 1981 expanded its ability to carry sightseeing passengers from several South Island airports. Air Safaris has combined tourism flying with wider commercial aviation work. Its services have included aircraft charter, freight, aerial photography and filming, survey work, and access to remote locations. The company also operated scheduled and contracted services at different points in its history. In 1987 it acquired Air Timaru and continued services from Timaru to Oamaru and Invercargill using Piper PA-31 Navajo aircraft. Between 1991 and 1996, one GAF Nomad was used for Air Nelson services to Christchurch and was also made available for regional capacity involving Christchurch, Hokitika, and Mount Cook routes. These scheduled operations were later discontinued. Scenic aviation remains the central consumer-facing proposition. Air Safaris offers fixed-wing sightseeing around Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and Westland National Park, including large-scale alpine itineraries such as the Grand Traverse. The company also provides charter links from Christchurch and Queenstown to Lake Tekapo for passengers connecting with scenic experiences. In 2013, it added a Robinson R44 helicopter and expanded into scenic helicopter flights alongside its fixed-wing operations. The fleet has changed over time from small general-aviation aircraft and ski-equipped Pilatus Porters to larger tourism aircraft. The GAF N24A Nomad has been identified as the largest aircraft in the fleet, supported by Cessna 208B and Gippsland GA8 Airvan aircraft. Earlier Cessna types and the Pilatus Porter have since been retired. The company logo uses a stylized chamois, an alpine goat-like animal associated with New Zealand's South Island high country. Air Safaris has also been recognized for aviation safety. It received a Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand safety award in 1996, and in 2002 it was among Tourism Flight Operators New Zealand members recognized for work intended to raise tourism-flight safety standards. The company has continued developing its regional infrastructure, including improvements at Pukaki Airport near Twizel to support scenic operations. Its history includes a fatal 1998 scenic-flight accident in the Mount Cook area; the cause was not determined in the reference account. Overall, Air Safaris occupies a specialist position at the intersection of tourism, remote-area aviation, charter transport, and alpine access.

A specialist South Island aviation brand focused on alpine sightseeing, glacier and national-park access, private charter, and remote-area aviation services.

Product categories. Fixed-wing scenic flights · Scenic helicopter flights · Air charter · Regional and connecting charter services · Aerial photography and filming flights · Freight and logistics flights · Survey and remote-access aviation services