Whangarei Airport
Encyclopedia
Whangarei Aerodrome is a small airport 4NM
(7.4km) to the south east of Whangarei
city, in the suburb of Onerahi
, on the east coast of Northland on the North Island
, New Zealand
.
The existing runway, 06/24 was upgraded in the 1960s to its current length of 1097 m, and the existing terminal was built on the northern side of the main runway in the early 1970s.
The airport terminal was upgraded in the early '90s to cater for Eagle Airways
aircraft, along with Ansett New Zealand
.
In 2002, direct flights linking Whangarei to Wellington International Airport
were begun, using Eagle Airways' new Beechcraft 1900
s, and became Eagle's longest regular flight service, at 626 km.
This caused Eagle Airways to put on another flight on Friday nights, from early July, 2007. This has boosted the airport's capacity to around 140,000 departing and arriving passengers per year.
Currently, the largest aircraft regularly using the airport is the Beechcraft 1900, although a recent runway upgrade will now allow Bombardier Dash 8s to land. The $1.5 million project extended the runway 30m, and resealed all of the current runway. It was completed at the end of April, 2009.
Whangarei has several destinations, the furthest away being Wellington at 626 km.
There are also several private aircraft hangars situated around the airport. There is one aircraft maintenance facility.
The airport has a modern air-conditioned terminal building with cafeteria, which services Air New Zealand
's subsidiary, Eagle Airways. The airport has secure parking, and four rental car companies.
The runway is lit by pilot activation of the lights, and Av-Gas and Jet A1 are available by swipe card payment.
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
(7.4km) to the south east of Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
city, in the suburb of Onerahi
Onerahi
Onerahi is a seaside suburb of Whangarei, New Zealand's northern most city. It is the city's only seaside suburb .It is located 9 km south-east of the centre of Whangarei, and follows the Whangarei harbour coastline until it meets the Pacific Ocean....
, on the east coast of Northland on the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, 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...
.
History
Whangarei District Airport was established before World War Two as an Air Force training base. It had three grass runways initially, with it being reduced to 2 runways (06/24 and 32/14) after the war. The old barracks are still present today, although surrounded by residential properties.The existing runway, 06/24 was upgraded in the 1960s to its current length of 1097 m, and the existing terminal was built on the northern side of the main runway in the early 1970s.
The airport terminal was upgraded in the early '90s to cater for Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways is a regional airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand with ten crew bases from Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands to Blenheim in the Marlborough region. It is wholly owned by Air New Zealand and operates regional services under the Air New Zealand Link brand...
aircraft, along with Ansett New Zealand
Ansett New Zealand
Ansett New Zealand was a wholly owned airline subsidiary of Ansett Australia, serving the New Zealand domestic market between 1987 and 2000. In order to comply with regulatory requirements relating to the acquisition of Ansett Australia by Air New Zealand, Ansett New Zealand was sold to News...
.
In 2002, direct flights linking Whangarei to Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport is an international airport located in the suburb of Rongotai in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is a secondary hub and focus city for Air New Zealand and its subsidiaries...
were begun, using Eagle Airways' new Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
s, and became Eagle's longest regular flight service, at 626 km.
Airport growth
These days Whangarei District Airport is becoming increasingly busy, with passenger numbers increasing steadily, on its nine return flights to Auckland and two flights to Wellington each weekday.This caused Eagle Airways to put on another flight on Friday nights, from early July, 2007. This has boosted the airport's capacity to around 140,000 departing and arriving passengers per year.
Currently, the largest aircraft regularly using the airport is the Beechcraft 1900, although a recent runway upgrade will now allow Bombardier Dash 8s to land. The $1.5 million project extended the runway 30m, and resealed all of the current runway. It was completed at the end of April, 2009.
Airlines and destinations
Airport services
Whangarei District Airport has an aero club, a flight training facility which also does scenic flights and charters (part of the Quantum Education Group ), two recreational flying clubs, a tandem and sport skydiving company (skydive Ballistic Blondes), three helicopter training outfits and aircraft maintenance facilities.There are also several private aircraft hangars situated around the airport. There is one aircraft maintenance facility.
The airport has a modern air-conditioned terminal building with cafeteria, which services Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
's subsidiary, Eagle Airways. The airport has secure parking, and four rental car companies.
The runway is lit by pilot activation of the lights, and Av-Gas and Jet A1 are available by swipe card payment.