Airwork

Airwork is an aviation business based in Auckland, New Zealand. The Airwork Group is New Zealand's largest general aviation company. It focuses on fixed wing and helicopter maintenance, leasing, and operations working with private and public entities on aviation operations, with a fleet of helicopters and 737 freighters.

For the British aviation and defence support services company of the same name, see Airwork Services.

Airwork
IATA ICAO Callsign
— AWK Airwork
Founded1936
Operating basesAuckland, Brisbane, Perth
SubsidiariesAirwork (NZ) Limited,
Airwork Flight Operations Ltd,
Helilink Ltd,
Skylink Ltd,
Inflite Charters Ltd
Fleet size15
Parent companyAirwork Group
HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
Key people
  • Chris Hart (CEO)
  • Phil Wiltshire (CFO)
Revenue$130 million
Websitewww.airworkgroup.com

It operates freight services in Australia for Toll Priority and Pacific Air Express. It operates night postal services for New Zealand Post and Freightways through a joint venture agreement. Its main fixed wing base is Auckland Airport, with helicopter operations at Ardmore Airport and Queenstown Airport in New Zealand. The Australian freighter fleet has its headquarters at Brisbane Airport, with operational bases in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Darwin.[1]

History

The Airwork group is one of New Zealand's oldest aviation companies. Airwork was first established in 1936 by aircraft engineers Charles and Arthur (Bill) Brazier as an aircraft maintenance company originally assembling Tiger Moth biplanes at Rongatai Airfield. As the industry developed, Airwork moved into the engine overhaul business and in the 1970s became a listed company in which Brierley Investments built up a substantial shareholding. The business was purchased in 1984 by Hugh Jones and Alan Hubbard, and in 1988 Hugh Jones took control of the whole business.[2]

Airwork Holdings Limited was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) in 2013 with the code AWK at an IPO price of $2.60 per share. Airwork's profit has increased 52% in the year ending 30 June 2014.[3] In October 2016, Chinese Zhejiang Rifa Holding Group offered $5.40 per share for 75 percent of the business. The offer closed in early March 2017 with 94.7 percent shareholder acceptance. [4] On 27 September 2017, Rifa Jair Company, a unit of Zhejian Rifa Holding group Co, made a full takeover offer for all fully paid ordinary shares of Airwork Holdings at a 21 percent premium to the closing price on 26 September 2017. [5] In January 2020 Airwork began services across the Tasman with the start of Auckland to Sydney flying in conjunction with Fedex.[6]

Fleet
An Airwork Boeing 737-300 freighter at Brisbane Airport (2011).
An Airwork Boeing 737-400F, operating for Toll Priority, at Christmas Island Airport (March 2016).

As of January 2020 the Airwork fleet consists of the following aircraft:[7][8]

Aircraft Total Orders Notes
Boeing 737-300F
4
 1x on wet lease to Toll Priority

1x on wet lease to Virgin Australia

2x on dry lease to Star Air

Boeing 737-400F
12[9]
 3x on dry-lease to Toll Priority

4x on wet-lease to Parcelair

1x in conversion

Boeing 757-200F 10 1x on dry lease to Aviastar-Tu

1x on dry lease to Swiftair

1x on dry lease to Olympus Airways

6x in conversion[10]

Total 26

In addition to the aircraft above, Airwork owns 29 Helicopters.[11]

As at Jan 2020 the Airwork fleet consists of the following aircraft:[12]

Helicopters Total Orders Notes
Eurocopter AS350 B2
2
Eurocopter AS350 BA
1
Eurocopter EC130 B4
1
Kawasaki BK 117 A-3
2
Kawasaki BK 117 A-4
1
Kawasaki BK 117 B-2
1
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 B-2
3

Incidents and accidents
  • On 26 November 1993, two aircraft operated by Airwork, under contract to the New Zealand Police, collided in mid-air over central Auckland. The collision of the Aérospatiale TwinStar helicopter and Piper Archer fixed wing aeroplane resulted in the deaths of all four occupants.
  • On 2 May 2005 a Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III registration ZK-POA broke up in flight 6 km East of Stratford. The flight was a NZ Post service from Auckland to Blenheim. The crash killed the two occupants.[13]
  • On 26 January 2014 a Boeing 737-300F ZK-TLC conducting a Toll freight service from Brisbane was involved in an incident while landing at Henderson field, Honiara in the Solomons Islands. The right landing gear collapsed during the roll out. None of the three crew were hurt in the incident.[14]

References
  1. (http://www.nvinteractive.co.nz), NV Interactive. "Airwork Group - Contact Us". Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. "History | Airwork". www.airworkgroup.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. "Airwork annual profit climbs 52%, beating forecast". 27 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  4. https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/partial-takeover-airwork-holdings-chinas-zhejiang-rifa-unconditional-b-200639
  5. https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/chinas-zhejiang-rifa-makes-full-takeover-offer-airwork-holdings-b-208145
  6. Lowe, Steve. "New Trans-Tasman Air Freight Service". 3rd Level NZ. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  7. Our Aircraft - Airwork flight operations Archived 8 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 20 October 2016.
  8. NZ CAA civil register entry - ZK-AWK retrieved 21 June 2010.
  9. "AEI to provide Airwork with 12th B737-400SF freighter conversion". Air Cargo News. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. "Airwork ramps up conversions | Cargo Facts". cargofacts.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  11. Greg Ninness (5 October 2013). "NZX Listing Beckons For Airwork Holdings". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  12. Aircraft Register retrieved 4 Jan 2020.
  13. Aviation Safety Network ZK-POA accident description. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  14. "Accident: Airwork B733 at Honiara on Jan 26th 2014, gear collapse on landing". Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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