Three more regional airlines receive loans
Published: 28 April, 2026
Three more regional airlines will receive Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) loans from the $30 million ear-marked to help support at-risk regional air routes and safeguard essential services.
Photo credit: Francine Boer. Air Chathams connects Auckland, Whakatāne, Whanganui, Kāpiti, Wellington, Christchurch, Chatham Islands and Pitt Island.
The RIF loans will help regional passenger airlines manage debt, maintain their fleet of aircraft and continue operating vulnerable routes that are important for the wellbeing, resilience and economies of regional communities.
The three airlines receiving funding support are:
- Air Chathams – receives $17.2m to refinance debt. The airline connects Auckland, Whakatāne, Whanganui, Kāpiti, Wellington, Christchurch, Chatham Islands and Pitt Island
- Sounds Air – receives $4.5m to upgrade its fleet and refinance debt. The airline connects Wellington, Picton, Kāpiti, Blenheim and Nelson.
- Island Air – receives $252,000 for fleet maintenance. The airline connects Tauranga and Motiti Island.
The first regional airline to receive a loan, Golden Bay Air, was announced in February.
