Freedom Air is a
New Zealand based low cost, regularly scheduled passenger
airline owned by
Air New Zealand.
Freedom Air was modeled after
United States company
Southwest Airlines, the idea being of providing affordable jet service without the perks that most airlines would offer. It began in
1996 with a single
Boeing 737.
Freedom Airs fleet has expanded to six Boeing 737s and it is now an international airline, services being provided to several Australian major cities from their base in Hamilton. Domestically, it also serves many New Zealander major cities. It was rumored in 2001 that Qantas was trying to buy the airline over, but the rumored sale never happened. Freedom Air has a contract with Wooster PPC Holland to produce airplane models of their Boeing 737s.