Cargo airline Texel Air Bahrain launches sister airline

Texel Air, a Bahraini cargo airline, has launched a sister airline, Texel Air Australasia, located at Auckland International Airport New Zealand. Texel Air Bahrain, headquartered in the Middle East, was formed by Founder and Chairman John Chisholm.

Texel Air Australasia was officially launched on Saturday June 10, 2023, from Auckland International Airport as New Zealand’s newest airline operating the B737- 800BCF. The airline will be adding two additional B737-800BCFs to the fleet by December 2023.

Texel Air Bahrain operates Boeing 737 freighter aircraft from Bahrain International Airport with two B737-700FC aircraft, two B737-800BCF aircraft and one B737-300F aircraft.

Texel Air was established in Bahrain in 2013 by Chisholm Enterprises WLL. The New Zealand operations increase the group fleet to six aircraft with further aircraft on order for delivery to New Zealand during 2023.

Texel Air Bahrain has been operating the B737-300F (A9C – APC) in New Zealand since April 3, 2023, under contract to NZ Post/Parceline Express in preparation for the arrival of the B737-800 (MSN 29985) ZK-TXE. The New Zealand operations have been supported by flight crew and engineers from Bahrain.

The venture into Australasia initially commenced with domestic operations in New Zealand under contract for launch customers Parceline Express and NZ Post.

The group plans to expand its fleet to ten aircraft by 2026 primarily flying in Australia and New Zealand and between the two countries supporting clients through ACMI services for the express, post and general cargo markets.

Texel Air Australasia will benefit from a proven ten years of operational experience from Texel Air Bahrain to establish an enduring and stable bond between the two distant island nations of New Zealand and Bahrain.

John Chisholm, Chairman for Texel Air said: “We are already very proud of our reputable and successful operation in Bahrain but to have the opportunity to replicate and launch an airline in my home country of New Zealand makes me even more proud. It is the culmination of my life’s work in the cargo and logistics industries in the Middle East.”