The airline operates one type of aircraft, the 50 seat Bombardier Q300 which provides an intensive regional air service that cannot be sustained with regional jet types of this size. Until 2008, Air Nelson operated the 33-seat Saab 340 that took over provincial Fokker F27 services by Air New Zealand in 1990.

Air Nelson Q300s wear the Air New Zealand livery and operate from Kerikeri in the far north of the North Island to Invercargill in the far south of the South Island.

The airline was established and started operations in 1979. It was founded by Robert Inglis and Nicki Smith who later sold the airline to Air New Zealand. It has 517 employees (at March 2015).

As a small commuter airline, Air Nelson operated in the top half of the South Island linking Nelson and Wellington with up to half-hourly services. Also providing isolated towns such as Takaka and Motueka with a convenient safe service to the outside world. During this time aircraft ranged in type from - Piper PA-31 Navajo, Fairchild Metro, and Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante.

In 1986, Air New Zealand announced it would start to scale back its Fokker F27 operations and smaller regional centres were the first affected. Air Nelson aircraft immediately replaced the F27 on those routes. Air Nelson grew their network at the same time and started operating non-stop service to Auckland, complementing F27 services. Air New Zealand also purchased a stake in Air Nelson (along with Eagle Airways) to secure the airline's support when deregulation saw the arrival of Ansett New Zealand.

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