Air Chathams is a 100% privately owned airline started in 1984 by CEO Craig Emeny. The airline built its foundations providing a critical air-link between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand. Air Chathams pioneered the transport of live rock lobster from the island, and now flies over 300 tonnes annually. The airline has developed over 30 years and now operates a secondary hub from its hangar and flight operations facility at Auckland International Airport. Air Chathams operated as subsidiary Chathams Pacific in the Kingdom of Tonga for 5 years, and during that time achieved the ability to carry out scheduled & line maintenance services under an NZCAA Part 145 certification. In April 2015 after Air NZ withdrew some regional NZ services, Air Chathams won a tender process to operate scheduled services between Auckland and Whakatane in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The airline also now flies scheduled services between Auckland and Whanganui and Auckland and the Kapiti Coast following the withdrawal of Air NZ in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Following 2 years of operating chartered group flights into Norfolk Island, Air Chathams began operating direct scheduled passenger flights from Auckland to the island in September 2019. This is the airline's first international destination. Air Chathams fleet consists of three Convair 580's, three Fairchild Metroliners, three SAAB 340's, an ATR 72, a Cessna 206, and a Douglas DC-3. The Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP is the only aircraft still operating in NZ that served the Royal NZ Airforce and flew for the National Airways Corporation (now Air NZ). It is available for scenic flights in Tauranga over the summer months and for group charters throughout New Zealand. The DC3 also attends selected air shows and regional festivals.