Palmerston North International Airport
Encyclopedia
Palmerston North International Airport is located on the outskirts of the suburb of Milson in Palmerston North
, New Zealand
, 5 km (3.1 mi) north-east of the City central area. Although the airport has not had a regular international flight since the end of March 2008, the official name, Palmerston North International Airport still remains. The airport handled 542,816 passengers for the year ending 31 December 2006 (461,542 domestic and 81,274 international)
, and the airport was also used as a military facility in World War II
. When the National Airways Corporation
began using the airport in the 1950s the runway was sealed and a terminal building was constructed; jets
started landing at the airport in 1975, beginning with a Boeing 737
. A new terminal was constructed in 1992 and regular international flights began being offered in 1996. A Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767
landed at the airport on 10 March 2003, making it the first 767 to land at the airport. Since Freedom Air
was scrapped, there have been no international flights to date. Despite the loss of International Service providers, the Airport still charges a $5 Departure Tax on most flights.
Boeing 737-300
over 100 metres in 47 seconds, to celebrate the opening of the new runway extensions. The record was logged in the Guinness World Records
.
and Brisbane
operated by Freedom Air, however services ended in March 2008. Previously, flights also operated to Melbourne
, the Gold Coast
, and Nadi
. The airport also receives a number of domestic flights. Flights from Air Post
, Air Freight, Massey University
's School of Aviation, commuter airlines such as Air2there
, Air National, Vincent Aviation
and Rescue Fire Services also use Palmerston North International Airport. The airport is also used for training purposes by RNZAF squadrons based at the nearby Ohakea
base.
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, 5 km (3.1 mi) north-east of the City central area. Although the airport has not had a regular international flight since the end of March 2008, the official name, Palmerston North International Airport still remains. The airport handled 542,816 passengers for the year ending 31 December 2006 (461,542 domestic and 81,274 international)
History
The first airfield on this site was created by the Milson Aerodrome Society in 1931, comprising a grass runway. It was used exclusively for private flights. The first commercial flights began in 1936, operated by Union AirwaysUnion Airways of N.Z. Ltd
Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd was New Zealand's first major airline.-History:The Union Steamship Company took shares in East Coast Airways in 1934 and in Cook Strait Airways in 1935, and later that year amalgamated these into a new national airway, on 5 January 1936 opening services between Palmerston...
, and the airport was also used as a military facility in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When the National Airways Corporation
National Airways Corporation
National Airways Corporation was the national domestic airline of New Zealand from 1947 until 1978 when it amalgamated with New Zealand's international airline, Air New Zealand. The airline was headquartered in Wellington...
began using the airport in the 1950s the runway was sealed and a terminal building was constructed; jets
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
started landing at the airport in 1975, beginning with a Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
. A new terminal was constructed in 1992 and regular international flights began being offered in 1996. A Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
landed at the airport on 10 March 2003, making it the first 767 to land at the airport. Since Freedom Air
Freedom Air
Freedom Air was Air New Zealand Group's low-cost airline which operated from December 1995 to March 2008. It ran scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Australia and Fiji and charter services within New Zealand...
was scrapped, there have been no international flights to date. Despite the loss of International Service providers, the Airport still charges a $5 Departure Tax on most flights.
World record
On May 17, 1998, ten people towed a fully fuelled Freedom AirFreedom Air
Freedom Air was Air New Zealand Group's low-cost airline which operated from December 1995 to March 2008. It ran scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Australia and Fiji and charter services within New Zealand...
Boeing 737-300
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
over 100 metres in 47 seconds, to celebrate the opening of the new runway extensions. The record was logged in the Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
.
Services
There were two regular international services departing from this airport, to SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
operated by Freedom Air, however services ended in March 2008. Previously, flights also operated to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, and Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
. The airport also receives a number of domestic flights. Flights from Air Post
Air Post
Air Post is a cargo airline based in Auckland, New Zealand. It operates night postal services for New Zealand Post in a joint venture agreement with Airwork, as well as operating ad hoc charter services...
, Air Freight, Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
's School of Aviation, commuter airlines such as Air2there
Air2there
air2there is an airline in New Zealand. It began service in 2004, and is based at Paraparaumu Airport, north of Wellington. It operates scheduled services in the lower North Island and across Cook Strait.-Destinations:...
, Air National, Vincent Aviation
Vincent Aviation
Vincent Aviation is an airline based in Wellington, New Zealand. It operates air charter, freight and subcontract flights with hubs at Wellington International Airport and Darwin International Airport, Australia. It was founded by Peter Vincent in 1992....
and Rescue Fire Services also use Palmerston North International Airport. The airport is also used for training purposes by RNZAF squadrons based at the nearby Ohakea
RNZAF Base Ohakea
RNZAF Base Ohakea is an operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Opened in 1939, it is near Bulls, 25 km north west of Palmerston North in the Manawatu...
base.
Facilities
The current terminal is a two storey building containing:- a cafeteria and bar
- a duty-free shop (No Longer Operational)
- a bookstore
- a Union Airways Gallery exhibition of early commercial flight in New Zealand
- an Air New Zealand Koru Lounge
Airlines and destinations
Incidents
- Ansett New Zealand Flight 703Ansett New Zealand Flight 703Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 was an Ansett New Zealand scheduled passenger transport flight from Auckland Airport to Palmerston North. On 9 June 1995, the Dash 8 aircraft flying this route crashed west of the Tararua Ranges and 16 km east of Palmerston North airport, during an instrument...
, a de Havilland Canada Dash 8 crashed west of the Tararua Ranges, 16 km east of the airport during an instrument approach in bad weather on June 9, 1995. 4 out of 21 people were killed on board.