A one-shot air purge apparatus for an inkjet cartridge for removing air accumulated within the cartridge. The inkjet cartridge comprises a print cartridge base and a replaceable ink receptacle. The replaceable ink receptacle comprises an ink supply coupled to an ink supply seal and a vacuum chamber coupled to an air purge seal. The print cartridge base comprises a printhead, a sub-receptacle coupled to the printhead and an ink supply needle which has an eyelet, an air pocket reserve in which the air accumulates coupled to an air purge needle that has an eyelet. The ink supply needle eyelet is coupled to the ink supply seal before the air purge needle eyelet is coupled to the air purge seal of the vacuum chamber.