Wairarapa Airlines 1985

 

Wairarapa Airlines timetable No.8 12 August 1985

Wairarapa Airlines timetable No.8 12 August 1985

Wairarapa Airlines from 1980-1997 meant that Masterton Airport was not without scheduled air services, notable for a location that struggles for quick access to airline services, with either a train followed by a bus to Wellington, or a drive over the Remutaka Hill Road, or northbound to Palmerston North, currently via the Pahiatua Track.  3rdLevel NZ Blog has the full history, whereas this timetable is a snapshot of services from August 1985. 

Noted on the timetable is the Hansell's logo, known as being a food producer, Hansells owned Wairarapa Airline at the time (from October 1983 until 1987). At this time the airline was flying Piper Chieftains and Piper Aztecs. Its network included direct flights to Auckland, Rotorua, Nelson, and Christchurch, but also between Auckland and Rotorua via Tauranga, Christchurch to Nelson. It also sold tickets connecting on Eagle Airways, Southern Cross Airways, Mt Cook Airlines and Air Albatross.  As can be seen its fares were $130 ($431 in 2023 dollars) Auckland-Masterton and it even sold tickets Auckland-Christchurch via Masterton for $170 full fare ($564 in 2023 dollars), although that involved a 4hr 10 minute journey including one hour layover in Masterton.  The timetable includes other fares, and freight as well.  Check in time was 20 minutes before the flight, with a baggage allowance of 16kg per passenger. Smoking was prohibited (thankfully!). 

Hood Aerodrome in Masterton has had a chequered history of airline service, with Air NZ withdrawing in 2014 after operating since 2009. The people of Masterton would no doubt be pleased if another airline could manage to make operations from Hood viable once more.