Texel Air Australasia launches as New Zealand’s newest cargo airline

Texel Air, a Bahraini cargo airline, has expanded its operations into Australasia with the launch of Texel Air Australasia, a sister airline located at Auckland International Airport. The official launch took place on Saturday, June 10th, 2023, marking a significant milestone for New Zealand’s aviation industry.

Texel Air Australasia will provide ACMI and charter cargo services for express, post and general cargo markets across Australasia using its narrowbody Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline will also offer aircraft maintenance services at its base in Auckland.

The airline launches with a single Boeing 737-800BCF (registration: ZK-TXE) in its fleet, which began operations in April under a contract with Parceline Express and NZ Post. The airline plans to add two more Boeing 737-800BCFs by December 2023, and aims to operate 10 aircraft by 2026.

John Chisholm, Chairman of Texel Air Group, said: “We are very proud of our reputable and successful operation in Bahrain but to have the opportunity to launch an airline in my home country of New Zealand makes me even more proud. We are grateful for the support and cooperation of the New Zealand government, aviation authorities and industry partners in making this possible.”

Texel Air Group was founded in 2013 and operates with a fleet of five Boeing 737 freighters from its base in Bahrain International Airport. The group specializes in niche markets for specialized ACMI and charter cargo requirements, as well as providing MRO services to civil and government customers.