Editing Cook Strait (section)

=== Air services ===
{{Further information|List of Cook Strait crossings by air}}
The first aeroplane flight across Cook Strait occurred in 1920,<ref>[https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/first-flight-across-cook-strait First flight across Cook Strait 25 August 1920]. ''[[New Zealand History Online]]'', Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Updated: 24 August 2020.</ref> jet aeroplane in 1946,{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} helicopter crossing in 1956,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Waugh |first1=Richard J. |title=Strait Across – The Pioneering Story of Cook Strait Aviation |publisher=Craig Printing Ltd |year=1995 |isbn=0473034271 |location=Invercargill, NZ |page=66 |chapter=Other Cook Strait Firsts}}</ref> glider crossing in 1957,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Craven |first=Wynn |date=October-November 2011 |title=The First Glider Crossing of Cook Strait - An Extraordinary Flight in 1957 |url=https://www.mccawmedia.co.nz/getattachment/e8130e01-01df-49d3-8f51-bcd710fd494f/SoaringNZ-Magazine-Back-Issues-Issue-24.aspx |magazine=SoaringNZ |publisher=McCaw Media Ltd |location=Christchurch, NZ |pages=30–32 |format=PDF |issue=24 |issn=}}</ref> balloon crossing (by Roland Parsons and Rex Brereton) in 1975,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-01-08 |title=Historic strait crossing was balloon enthusiast's last trip |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/features/focus/3215841/Historic-strait-crossing-was-balloon-enthusiasts-last-trip |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> microlight aircraft in 1982,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Waugh |first1=Richard J. |title=Strait Across – The Pioneering Story of Cook Strait Aviation |publisher=Craig Printing Ltd |year=1995 |isbn=0473034271 |location=Invercargill, NZ |page=66 |chapter=Other Cook Strait Firsts}}</ref> autogyros in 1999,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 1999 |title=Bill Black and Terry Tiffen flying in their gyrocopters |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23216417 |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=National Library |language=en}}</ref> paraglider (by Matt Standford) in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-03 |title=Paraglider first to cross Cook Strait |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/129511/paraglider-first-to-cross-cook-strait |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> In 2021 the first electric aircraft flight across Cook Strait, from [[Omaka Aerodrome]] to [[Wellington Airport]], by Gary Freedman in a [[Pipistrel Alpha Electro]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Perry |first=Nick |date=1 November 2021 |title=Electric plane crosses NZ's Cook Strait |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7493265/electric-plane-crosses-nzs-cook-strait/ |access-date=3 November 2021 |work=Canberra Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 November 2021 |title=Electric powered plane makes history in Cook Strait flight |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/11/01/electric-powered-plane-makes-history-in-cook-strait-flight/ |access-date=3 November 2021 |work=[[1News]]}}</ref>

Air services began across Cook Strait in 1935.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Air lines which operate or have operated flights across Cook Strait include [[Straits Air Freight Express]], [[Air2there]], [[CityJet (New Zealand)|CityJet]] and [[Sounds Air]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}