Glenorchy Air to launch new brand with a Tecnam P2012
Queenstown based, Glenorchy Air will launch a new private charter brand named Queenstown Air Charter from October 2026.
A digital render of the new Queenstown Air Charter P2012 | Glenorchy Air
Glenorchy Airs parent company Stokes Aviation has placed an order for a new, custom built Tecnam P2012 whcih is scheduled for delivery in the middle of this year.
The P2012 Traveller is an 11-seat, 9 passenger twin-engined aircraft built by Tecnam in Capua, Italy. This aircraft is planned to be registered as ZK-JTK, succeding the company’s old Cessna 206 Stationair which also carried the registration ZK-JTK.
The new P2012 will be the first of its type to operate in New Zealand following the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand's certification of the P2012 in March 2026.
The aircraft is of similar size to the Cessna Grand Caravans that Glenorchy Air operates, although has a maximum cruise speed about 15 knots higher than the Caravans. Stokes Aviation has selected the Continental engines for this aircraft thanks to the superior take off and landing performance and the lower noise signature from the larger and slower turning propellers
The P2012 will be able to operate to all of Glenorchy Air’s destinations including Milford Sound, Mt Cook, and Stewart Island. The P2012 has a very high range capability with the airline advertising the aircaft will be available for charter flights as far as the lower North Island.
Glenorchy Air CEO James Stokes said:
“We are extremely excited to debut the Tecnam P2012 Traveller in New Zealand and use it to expand our capacity and capability into 2026 and beyond. Our management pilots and I viewed the aircraft at Oshkosh 2025 in the United States, and we were very impressed with its passenger comfort, cockpit ergonomics, and Italian styling.”
In 2023, Glenorchy Air also became New Zealand’s first operator of the Daher Kodiak.
According to the Queenstown Air Charter website, all flights under the new brand will be operated by Glenorchy Air. Glenorchy Air’s current fleet includes two Cessna 208B Grand Caravans and two Daher Kodiak 100s.