Origin Pacific to resume charter flights

Regional airline Origin Pacific said today it would resume an air charter service, after halting passenger flights earlier this month when it ran out of capital.

Origin founder and managing director Robert Inglis said in a letter to passengers that it would recommence charter flights, in addition to its freight service, as the division had operated "significantly profitably".

Nelson-based Origin closed its passenger services on August 10 after time ran out to find more than $5 million in capital to keep flying.

It had been struggling in its competition on the regional routes against Air New Zealand since losing its partnership with Australian airline Qantas in 2004.

Origin was looking at opportunities for its fleet but was not considering returning to its previous level of regional scheduled flights "whilst our State-owned competitor continues to enjoy such an unfettered dominant position..." Mr Inglis said.

"The airline is considering a range of initiatives for recapitalisation and options for future operations."

A number of interested parties have formally entered into due diligence of both the freight and passenger businesses.

The freight business largely consists of the rights to the cargo space on Qantas domestic Boeing 737 services and a nightly Qantas 767 freighter between Auckland and Christchurch.

- NZPA