Sounds Air

Sounds Air is a New Zealand airline based at Picton. The airline was founded in 1986 by Cliff and Diane Marchant with a vision to provide low cost flights to the Marlborough Sounds. The airline has its maintenance facility at the Omaka Airfield, Blenheim with its Sounds Aero Maintenance division based there.

Sounds Air operates eight aircraft on scheduled flights between Wellington to Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Taupo and Westport. A service to Masterton is being considered from Wellington. Sounds Air formerly served Kaikoura from Wellington and Kapiti Coast from Picton, both these scheduled flights stopped in 2009. In addition to scheduled flights Sounds Air offer scenic flights over the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park. The airline operates 19 flights per day from Wellington with 3 to Westport, 3 to Nelson, 3 to Taupo and 5 each to Picton and Blenheim. While Blenheim has 3 daily flights to Kapiti Coast.

On 30 January 2015, Sounds Air commenced services to Kapiti Coast Airport from Blenheim. They may also serve routes being axed by Air New Zealand such as Taupo to Wellington with the Pilatus. Another route being looked at is Nelson to Palmerston North and Blenheim to Napier among others. Flights from Wellington to Westport began on 28 April 2015. Early May 2015, Sounds Air announced that it will cease services between Wellington and Wanganui citing poor loadings. The last flight will be on May 15. Mid May 2015, Sounds Air announced two new routes they will be operating. Firstly the Kapiti Coast to Nelson route to begin 15 June 2015. Secondly the Blenheim to Napier route to begin in August.