Air Chathams took over flying out of Whanganui about nine months ago, when Air New Zealand quit. Mr Emeny said the airline was enjoying its work here, despite extra passenger numbers causing a bit of stress.
The Air Chathams Saab 340 aircraft, which seats 34, has just been out of action for a maintenance check for six weeks. It resumed flying in early June, with a refreshed interior and upgraded cockpit avionics.
While it was out of action there were flights with too many passengers to fit into an 18-seater Metroliner, so the airline put on a 50-seater Convair 580.
The Convair looks a bit old fashioned but is reliable and has "more leg room than anything else flying around in New Zealand skies", Mr Emeny said. It also has a galley, inflight service, a toilet and overhead lockers.
Passenger reaction to it was overwhelmingly positive, with some people saying they want it back.
It will now be used on the six busiest flights of the week until the end of July, in a trial. Those flights are on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, the three Sunday afternoon flights and the Monday morning flight.
The rest of the flights will be in the usual Metroliner, which Mr Emeny and his pilot father and brother really enjoy.
"I fly the Metroliner quite a bit. It's a neat little aircraft," he said.
In other good news for New Zealand's largest private airline, its founder and CEO Craig Emeny was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Mr Emeny said his dad kept a fairly low profile and was chuffed by the honour.
"He's battled away in aviation for 30 years, and he's very happy to have it recognised."
