Freedom Air

Freedom Air was established in 1995 as a response to the commencement of discount services between New Zealand and Australia by Kiwi Travel International Airlines and started operations on 8 December 1995 with a single Boeing 757-200.^[1][2] It was formed as South Pacific Air Charters by Mount Cook Airline and renamed Freedom Air International in 1998.

In May 2001, Freedom Air begain operating domestic services between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.^[3] By 2004, its fleet had expanded to five Boeing 737-300s,^[4] and it was providing direct non-stop services to the Australian cities of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne from Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Palmerston North.^[5] Flights to Fiji were also operated.

In June 2006, the aircraft from Freedom Air were combined with Air New Zealand's fleet of Airbus A320-200s under the air operator's certificate of Zeal320.^[6] When the airline ceased Zeal320 had one aircraft painted in Freedom Air livery.^[7]

Air New Zealand ceased all Freedom Air operations from the end of March 2008.^[2][8]

Throughout its existence, Freedom Air flew to six destinations in New Zealand, five in Australia and one in Fiji.^[9] When the airline shut down on 30 March 2008, all services were replaced by Air New Zealand flights, except flights out of Palmerston North, which left the airport without any international services. Flights to Nadi and Newcastle were withdrawn prior to 2008.

•  Australia
  • Brisbane – Brisbane Airport
  • Gold Coast – Gold Coast Airport
  • Melbourne – Melbourne Airport
  • Newcastle – Newcastle Airport^[10]
  • Sydney – Sydney Airport
•  Fiji
  • Nadi – Nadi International Airport^[11]
•  New Zealand
  • Auckland – Auckland Airport (Hub)
  • Christchurch – Christchurch Airport
  • Dunedin – Dunedin Airport
  • Hamilton – Hamilton Airport
  • Palmerston North – Palmerston North Airport
  • Wellington – Wellington Airport

Freedom Air had operated the following aircraft:^{[citation needed]}