With other aviation bases in Nelson, Kaikoura, Wellington, Greymouth, Vanuatu and Fiji, the company owns more than 30 aircraft and employs over 120 staff. It is extending its range of services to the south island.

A new initiative from Garden City Helicopters is targeted at Christchurch locals looking for a new experience on their doorstep, but will surely also prove popular for Australian visitors when the Trans-Tasman corridor opens.

The CL604's range means it can easily reach any city in Australia and is capable of the lower half of Indonesia and across the Pacific to Tahiti without a refuel stop. For now, it is mainly restricted to domestic NZ flights.