Mainland Air

Mainland Air is a New Zealand aviation company based at Dunedin International Airport. Its activities combine general aviation, pilot education, aircraft charter, scenic flying, and medical transport rather than focusing exclusively on conventional scheduled airline operations. The company serves customers across New Zealand and has operated aircraft suited to both passenger and specialist aviation work, including Piper Chieftain and Piper Seneca twin-engine aircraft, Cessna 152 trainers, and a twin-engine Tecnam aircraft. The business was established in 1991 by Queenstown businessman Christopher Kelliher. During its earlier development, Mainland Air secured a role carrying courier traffic for New Zealand Post between Dunedin and Christchurch, a contract it operated from 1995 until 2006. It subsequently experimented with scheduled regional passenger services. In 2007 it introduced a thrice-weekly Dunedin–Alexandra–Queenstown service using a ten-seat Piper Chieftain. A Dunedin–Invercargill service followed in March 2008, also operating three times each week with a Piper Chieftain. The company considered additional links to Wānaka and Te Anau, but these scheduled operations were later withdrawn because demand was insufficient. Ownership changed in late 2009, when Kelliher sold Mainland Air to the Paterson family, owners of Southair, the company’s principal maintenance provider. In 2013 the business was sold to Phil and Shirley Kean. Phil Kean had served as the company’s long-time chief pilot, while Shirley Kean had been its general manager, giving the new ownership team substantial operational familiarity with the business. Mainland Air’s current operating model is centered on flexible aviation services. It provides charter flights throughout New Zealand and offers scenic trips to destinations including Milford Sound, Mount Aspiring/Tititea, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland, Omarama, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Taiaroa Heads, and the Queenstown region. The company also operates air ambulance and medical-transfer flights. These include transport for medical specialists between Dunedin and Invercargill and between Dunedin and Alexandra on behalf of the Southern District Health Board. Training is another core activity. The company operates the Mainland Aviation College, using Cessna 152 aircraft for ab-initio and general pilot instruction, as well as twin-engine aircraft for multi-engine and instrument training. Its Piper Chieftain aircraft support charter and air ambulance work, while Piper Seneca aircraft are used for charter and advanced training. The combination of training, charter, scenic flying, and medical aviation gives Mainland Air a diversified role within New Zealand’s regional and general aviation sector. The company has periodically tested scheduled passenger routes but has not retained them where patronage was inadequate. A service connecting Oamaru and Christchurch began on 4 June 2014 using Piper Chieftain aircraft and ended approximately three months later because of low demand. Potential links involving Timaru, Wānaka, Christchurch, Oamaru, and Wellington have also been discussed. Mainland Air is therefore best understood as a specialist regional aviation and flight-training operator whose principal business is on-demand and institutional aviation, rather than as a large network airline.

Mainland Air was founded in 1991 by Christopher Kelliher, a businessman from Queenstown. The company developed within New Zealand’s regional and general aviation market and established its base at Dunedin International Airport. Rather than growing solely as a conventional passenger airline, it combined several aviation activities, including courier flying, charter, flight instruction, and specialist transport. From 1995 to 2006, Mainland Air operated courier flights for New Zealand Post between Dunedin and Christchurch. This contract gave the company a recurring operational role while it continued to develop its broader aviation capabilities. After the courier period, Mainland Air explored scheduled passenger flying. In 2007 it began a three-times-weekly service from Dunedin through Alexandra to Queenstown, using a ten-seat Piper Chieftain. In March 2008 it added a similar-frequency route from Dunedin to Invercargill. The company also considered services to Wānaka and Te Anau, reflecting the potential for small-aircraft links between South Island destinations. The scheduled passenger routes were ultimately withdrawn because demand was not sufficient to sustain them. The company’s subsequent development placed greater emphasis on charter and specialist flying. In late 2009 Kelliher sold Mainland Air to the Paterson family, who owned Southair, the company’s major maintenance provider. This ownership arrangement connected Mainland Air with an established aviation-maintenance relationship. A further ownership transition took place in 2013, when Phil and Shirley Kean acquired the company. The Keans were already closely associated with its operations: Phil had been the long-serving chief pilot and Shirley had been general manager. Their acquisition preserved continuity of aviation and management experience while placing the business under the ownership of existing senior personnel. Mainland Air’s service portfolio includes charter flights throughout New Zealand, scenic aviation, air ambulance work, and medical specialist transfers. Scenic destinations associated with its operations include Milford Sound, Mount Aspiring/Tititea, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland, Omarama, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Taiaroa Heads, and the Queenstown area. The company also performs medical-related flights for the Southern District Health Board, including transfers for specialists traveling between Dunedin and Invercargill and between Dunedin and Alexandra several times per week. Flight education became another central part of the business through the Mainland Aviation College. The training operation uses Cessna 152 aircraft for basic pilot instruction, while twin-engine aircraft support more advanced multi-engine and instrument training. Mainland Air has operated two Piper Chieftains for charter and air ambulance duties, two Piper Senecas for charter and advanced training, and a twin-engine Tecnam for pilot training. The company has continued to evaluate regional scheduled flying even though its earlier routes were unsuccessful. On 4 June 2014 it started a scheduled Oamaru–Christchurch service with Piper Chieftain aircraft. That route was discontinued approximately three months later due to low patronage. Possible services involving Timaru, Wānaka, Christchurch, Oamaru, and Wellington have also been discussed. The available historical record does not establish that these proposed routes became sustained scheduled operations. Mainland Air is consequently positioned as a diversified New Zealand general aviation operator. Its role encompasses on-demand travel, scenic tourism, medical aviation, and pilot training, with the Dunedin base providing access to South Island destinations and aviation institutions. Its history shows a pattern of testing scheduled regional links while relying more consistently on charter, training, and specialist aviation services.

• 2014

  Oamaru–Christchurch service introduced and withdrawn

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  The route opened on 4 June but was discontinued about three months later because of insufficient patronage.

• 2013

  Kean ownership begins

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  Phil and Shirley Kean acquired Mainland Air after holding senior operational positions within the company.

• 2009

  Ownership passes to the Paterson family

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  Christopher Kelliher sold Mainland Air to the Paterson family, owners of Southair.

• 2008

  Dunedin–Invercargill service launched

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  A three-times-weekly Piper Chieftain service between Dunedin and Invercargill began in March.

• 2007

  Dunedin–Alexandra–Queenstown route launched

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  Mainland Air introduced a thrice-weekly scheduled service using a ten-seat Piper Chieftain.

• 2006

  Courier contract concludes

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  The company ended its New Zealand Post courier operation after eleven years.

• 1995

  New Zealand Post courier flying begins

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  Mainland Air started courier flights between Dunedin and Christchurch for New Zealand Post.

• 1991

  Mainland Air established

  [1]Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org

  Christopher Kelliher founded Mainland Air in New Zealand.

A Dunedin-based New Zealand general aviation specialist combining flexible charter, scenic flying, medical aviation, and professional pilot training.

• Air charter

  Aircraft charter

  Mainland Air provides on-demand charter flights throughout New Zealand. Its charter capability supports private, corporate, institutional, and specialist travel, using aircraft appropriate to the route and mission. The business is oriented toward flexible point-to-point flying rather than a large fixed network.

• Tourism aviation

  Scenic flights

  The company operates scenic flights over and around prominent New Zealand destinations, including Milford Sound, Mount Aspiring/Tititea, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland, Omarama, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Taiaroa Heads, and the Queenstown area. These flights use the operator’s general aviation infrastructure and provide access to destinations associated with South Island landscapes.

• Flight training

  Mainland Aviation College

  Mainland Aviation College is the company’s flight-training school. The school provides pilot instruction using Cessna 152 aircraft and offers advanced multi-engine and instrument training using twin-engine aircraft, including Piper Seneca aircraft and other suitable fleet types.

• 2014

  Oamaru–Christchurch serviceProduct launch

  Background

  Mainland Air continued to assess opportunities for scheduled connections among smaller New Zealand centers.

  Action taken

  It began scheduled Oamaru–Christchurch flights on 4 June using Piper Chieftain aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The service ended approximately three months later because of low patronage.

  Source

• 2013

  Sale to Phil and Shirley KeanM&A

  Background

  The company changed ownership again after the Paterson family period.

  Action taken

  Phil and Shirley Kean acquired Mainland Air. Phil had been the long-time chief pilot and Shirley had been the general manager.

  Aftermath

  Ownership passed to two people with direct experience in the company’s flight operations and administration.

  Source

• 2009

  Sale to the Paterson familyM&A

  Background

  Mainland Air’s founder and owner, Christopher Kelliher, decided to transfer ownership after the company had operated courier, scheduled, and general aviation services.

  Action taken

  Kelliher sold the company to the Paterson family, owners of Southair, Mainland Air’s major maintenance provider.

  Aftermath

  The transaction placed Mainland Air under ownership connected to its established aircraft-maintenance provider.

  Source

• 2007

  Expansion into scheduled regional passenger flyingStrategy

  Background

  After its courier operation and general aviation activities, Mainland Air tested the viability of scheduled links between smaller South Island communities.

  Action taken

  The company launched a thrice-weekly Dunedin–Alexandra–Queenstown service using a ten-seat Piper Chieftain and later added Dunedin–Invercargill flying.

  Aftermath

  The scheduled routes were later dropped because demand was inadequate, and the business concentrated more heavily on charter, training, scenic, and specialist aviation.

  Source

1. 1Mainland Airen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mainland Air official websitemainlandair.com