Airlines to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island suffers from notorious fog. Being a small island the fog often rolls in at short notice closing the airport while aircraft are midflight from Australia or New Zealand. The disappointed passengers are often told they need to turn back and try tomorrow.
The unfortunate airline needs to rebook the unsympathetic passengers and often pay accommodation till the next day. This explains why so many airlines have gone bankrupt flying this route. Qantas shareholders will be pleased to note Australia’s flag carrier won’t touch the route with a 10 foot barge pole, while safely codeshares with others who take all the risks.
Following the demise of Norfolk Jet Express in 2005 the tax payers of the island have been subsidising their community owned airline Norfolk Air.
If you intend being a passenger perhaps you should stop reading here. Norfolk Air was formed following the demise of Norfolk Jet Express in 2005 at initially operated the oldest passenger jet aircraft in Australia; one of OzJet's Boeing 737-200 which rolled off the assembly line in 1975. Despite being well maintained in December 2007 a wing flap broke off mid flight and passengers were prepared for an ocean landing which was fortunately averted. Other problems were kept off the raider and out of the papers. Fortunately OzJet's services were replaced by Our Airline, a dodgy operator from the banana republic of Nauru in the central Pacific.
However Norfolk Island’s airport is very primitive and only suited to clear weather flying. Nervous flyers should drink their duty free before boarding. Travel Insurance is very sensible as there is a genuine risk of flight cancellation. In addition to Norfolk Air flying from Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane to the island, Air New Zealand flies once a week from Auckland. Despite having an abundant supply of expensive remote temperate islands of their own, the Kiwi flag carrier still manages to find enough passengers to justify the leg which is equipped with modern Airbus A320’s. How they make a profit on the route remains a mystery.
Norfolk Air the island’s Flag Carrier is a full service carrier which codeshares with Qantas and operates regular flights from Australia’s eastern states to Norfolk Island. Friendly staff compensate for the aging aircraft.
Air New Zealand flies from Auckland to Norfolk Island however rarely offer discounted fares. Air New Zealand is without doubt the best airline flying here, but f you're after value for money try Fiji.
Qantas frequent flyers can redeem points by enjoying an escape to Norfolk Island but will seated on a Norfolk Air aircraft. Qantas Holidays offer all inclusive package deals to the convict isle.