| Airline: | Sounds Air |
| Iata: | S8 |
| Icao: | SDA[1] |
| Callsign: | SOUNDSAIR |
| Founded: | 1986 |
| Headquarters: | Blenheim, New Zealand |
| Key People: | Cliff Marchant (Founder), Andrew Crawford (Chief Executive/Director), Rhyan Wardman (Chairman, Director), Steve Handyside (Director), Simon Craddock (Director) |
| Bases: | Wellington Airport |
| Fleet Size: | 10 |
| Destinations: | 9 |
Sounds Air is a New Zealand airline based in Marlborough.[2] The airline was founded in 1986 by Cliff and Diane Marchant to provide low cost flights to the Marlborough Sounds.[3] The airline's head office as well as it's Sounds Aero Maintenance division is based at Omaka aerodrome.[4]
From a single Cessna Caravan operating one route across the Cook Strait, Sounds Air has grown in 30 years; the airline carried 78,000 passengers in 2015, compared to 14,000 passengers in 2003. In 2008 the airline set up its own maintenance division as the airline could not find a company suitable to maintain its fleet.[5] In 2017, Sounds Air signalled that they were looking at buying twin engine planes for the first time: up to three 19-seater Beech 1900 aircraft to support extra demand for the Blenheim to Christchurch route.[6]
Sounds Air operates scheduled flights between Wellington and Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Taupō and Westport.[7] [8] Scheduled flights are also available between Blenheim and Christchurch,[9] [10] Wānaka and Paraparaumu. Nelson also has flights to Paraparaumu.[11] Sounds Air formerly served Kaikoura, Napier and Whanganui[12] from Wellington, Napier from Blenheim and Kāpiti Coast from Picton.[13] A service to Masterton was being considered from Wellington, however no such service eventuated, because the town wanted the link to Auckland reinstated instead.[14] In addition to scheduled flights Sounds Air offers scenic flights over the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park.[15] The airline started temporary services to Kaikoura from Christchurch and Blenheim on 21 November 2016 following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.[16] The Kaikoura to Christchurch flights ceased from 27 January 2017[17] followed by the Blenheim flights on 29 December 2017. From this date onwards Kaikoura will become a charter route only.[18] Sounds Air commenced Christchurch to Wānaka another former Air New Zealand route on 2 November 2020.[19]
Sounds Air operates scheduled services to the following destinations within New Zealand:
| City | IATA | Airport | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHE | |||
| CHC | |||
| KBZ | |||
| Napier | NPE | Hawke's Bay Airport[20] | |
| NSN | |||
| PPQ | |||
| PCN | |||
| TUO | |||
| WKA | |||
| WLG | |||
| WSZ | |||
| WAG | |||
As of May 2024 the Sounds Air fleet consists of ten aircraft.[21] 6 Pilatus PC-12's which are a pressurized, single-engined, turboprop aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Stans, Switzerland since 1991. It was designed as a high-performance utility aircraft powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop. They incorporate a large aft cargo door in addition to the main passenger door. It is configured in a 9 seat commuter configuration with 1-1 arrangement. And 4 Cessna 208 Caravan's which are strutted, high wing aircraft with an unpressurized cabin. They are powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A tractor turboprop and have a fixed tricycle landing gear. 2 of the 4 are 208's which seat 12 people in a 1–2 configuration with a 2 person bench seat in the aft section. The 2 others are the stretched 208B's which seat 13 people in a 1–2 configuration.
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers (Economy) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 208 Caravan | 12 | |||
| Pilatus PC-12 | 9 | |||
| Total | 10 |
On 28 September 2020, the airline signed a letter of intent to Swedish company Heart Aerospace to purchase their ES-19 electric aircraft once it comes available, scheduled for 2026. The airline hopes the ES-19 will be able to make them the first regional airline to offer Zero-emissions flights.[22] In 2022 this was upgraded to the ES-30.[23]