Owner/Operator Far North Holdings Elevation AMSL 492 ft / 150 m 1,608 490 Elevation 150 m | Location Kerikeri 02/20 1,608 Code KKE Phone +64 9-407 6133 | |
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Website www.kerikeri-airport.co.nz Address 218 Wiroa Rd, Kerikeri 0293, New Zealand Similar Avis Kerikeri Downtow, A1 Rentals Northland Ltd, Go Birdz Rental Cars, Northland Rentals ‑ Kerikeri, A2B Car Rentals | ||
Kerikeri airport
Kerikeri Airport (IATA: KKE, ICAO: NZKK), also known as Bay of Islands Airport, is an airport at Kerikeri, New Zealand. It is about a three hour drive from Auckland and a 40-minute flight from Auckland Airport.
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History
The airport was initially a grass airstrip created in the early 1930s or possibly earlier. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the Defence Department, for Royal New Zealand Air Force training. After the war ended, it was once again run by local government.
In 1972, Mount Cook Airlines decided to use the airport to connect to tourist resorts. The service failed through lack of patronage. A Kerikeri-Auckland route was started by the airline but was not widely used. It was not until 1992, after the transfer of the airport to Northern Airports Corporation (now merged into Far North Holdings Ltd), that Eagle Airways (a subsidiary of Air New Zealand) took over scheduled service and patronage on the route increased. Eagle Airways ceased its Kerikeri service in 2015 and was replaced by another Air New Zealand Link subsidiary, Air Nelson, operating their 50-seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q300.
The airport undertook expansion of the runway in 2014–15, and increased the apron area to allow for more aircraft to park. This was paid for by Air New Zealand. In October 2016 it was announced that the terminal at Kerikeri would be expanded due to an ongoing increase in passenger numbers, such as the record number of 87,000 people flying in or out of the airport in 2015, an increase of 33 percent since Dash 8 began servicing the Auckland-Kerikeri route.
Light aircraft transit
Kerikeri Airport is used by light aircraft arriving or departing from New Zealand. Norfolk Island Airport is 903 km (488 nautical miles) north-west of Kerikeri, 754 km (407 nautical miles) to Noumea in New Caledonia, or 900 km (486 nautical miles) to Lord Howe Island which can be used as a stepping stone to the Australian mainland.
These distances are within the range of many light aircraft when fitted with long range tanks, while the direct distance without using Norfolk Island as a stepping stone is usually beyond their capabilities. From New Caledonia other Pacific Islands such as Vanuatu and Fiji are within range and can be used as further 'stepping stones' to the other South Pacific and North Pacific destinations. Kaitaia Airport also has fuel available and is 52 km (28 nautical miles) closer to Norfolk Island than Kerikeri.