06 May 2010

FlyDirect Update


Source : http://www.thewanakasun.co.nz/documents/wanakasun451.pdf

Jobs take-off at airport
They are queuing up for jobs at Wanaka Airport even though none have yet been advertised. Last March the new charter holiday company, flyDirect, announced it was coming to Wanaka and offering daily flights to Christchurch and twice daily to Wellington. At the time the owner, Auckland based businessman Jef Kay, said around 20 full-time and part-time jobs would be created. Since then his in-box has been filling up with job applications. “I have received more than one hundred CVs from people who want to work for the company, and at this stage we have not advertised a single vacancy,” Jef said. flyDirect will soon begin interviewing potential staff for jobs which cover aircraft ground handling, baggage collectors, check-in staff, car hire operators and office personnel. The new company is already making final preparations to begin services in and out of Wanaka Airport on July 1. New buildings are planned to be put in place later this month on a vacant plot next door to the airport manager’s office. These include a passenger terminal, administration offices, lunch room for staff and toilets. The air charter company will operate a 35 seat Dash 8 aircraft on the Wanaka to Christchurch route and a 50 seat Convair aircraft on the Wanaka to Wellington route. The company is setting up package holidays from Christchurch and Wellington, but it is also offering return flights for passengers from Wanaka. “Since we launched the services on our website at the beginning of April passenger take-up has been strong,” Jef said. “I am looking forward to our first flight to Wanaka on July 1.” In the meantime, Queenstown Airport Corporation, owners of Wanaka Airport, has been busy acquiring a Civil Aviation Authority Certification. This now means the airport is fully operational to handle aircraft with over 35 seats. It will also, for the first time, have its own fire truck permanently based there. “This is a fantastic opportunity for Wanaka Airport. The new airline will not only bring valuable revenue for the airport, but also the local economy,” Steve Sanderson, CEO of Queenstown Airport Corporation, said.

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