News
Last week it was All Blacks Crockett, Slade and McCaw that drew the crowds, this week it was a jet aircraft that you may well have flown on.
Hundreds turned up at Invercargill Airport yesterday to say cherri-oh to the last of Air New Zealand’s Boeing 737 jet aircraft.The 737-300 ZK NGI is on a farewell tour of regional airports after being officially retired from Air New Zealand’s fleet as of last Sunday.The plane worked right up to its last landing completing seven commercial flights on its last day of duty.An Air New Zealand spokesman says the Boeing 737 aircraft have been in the airline’s service for 47 years and that most of us probably had our first ride in a jet plane in a 737.For Southlanders the sight and the distinctive thunder were a daily occurrence when the airline operated jet services to IVC.Lets ask the question, how many Southlanders flew away for a business trip, well deserved holiday, family occasion or sports trip on one of these wonderful aircraft ?The 737 has been a hugely popular short haul aircraft for any number of airlines around the world.Air New Zealand is replacing them with the bigger and much more importantly, more fuel efficient Airbus A320. Will we see these aircraft flying regular services into Invers one day soon?