Airport type Public Elevation AMSL 30 m / 97 ft 1,000 3,281 Elevation 30 m Owner Government of New Zealand | Location New Plymouth 05R/23L 1,000 Code NPL Phone +64 6-759 6060 | |
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Operator New Plymouth District Council Address Airport Dr, New Plymouth Airport, New Plymouth 4373, New Zealand | ||
New plymouth airport
New Plymouth Airport (IATA: NPL, ICAO: NZNP) serves the city of New Plymouth, and the surrounding region of Taranaki. It is on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island and is 11 km from the city centre, on the highway north to Auckland, and 4 km from the outer suburb/satellite town of Bell Block.
Contents
- New plymouth airport
- Jetstar takes off from new plymouth airport
- History
- Facilities
- Airport terminal upgrades
- Previous Airlines
- Aircraft
- References
New Plymouth Airport is served by Air New Zealand with direct flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch daily operated on behalf of the national airline carrier by Mount Cook Airline and Air Nelson. Jetstar Airways commenced services between New Plymouth and Auckland on 1 February 2016.
Jetstar Airways had originally planned to conduct 27 weekly return flights between New Plymouth and Auckland however only 20 return flights weekly had been offered. The fourth service never eventuated and in mid 2016 the mid-day flight was cancelled indefinitely. The Jetstar flights are operated by Eastern Australia Airlines.
With 19,678 aircraft movements, the airport was the 14th busiest airport in New Zealand in 2015 flight operations. However, in terms of passenger numbers, it was the 9th busiest in New Zealand in 2014, with 343,572 people flying to the airport. Hence, more people fly to New Plymouth than other cities with larger populations such as Hamilton and Tauranga. In October 2009, New Plymouth Airport was voted as the best regional airport in New Zealand.
Jetstar takes off from new plymouth airport
History
The original airport opened in 1933 with the New Plymouth Airport Act. It had five runways, the longest of which was around 1,500 m (5,000 ft). During World War II, the airport became RNZAF Bell Block Airbase. Post war, the airport returned to civilian use, and was used by New Zealand National Airways Corporation with links to Whenuapai (Auckland) and Paraparaumu (Wellington).
In line with a general improvement throughout the 1950s and 1960s, of New Zealand's infrastructure, and National Airways Corporation (NZNAC) acquisition of Fokker F27 Friendships, New Plymouth's airport was reviewed. In view of the undulating land, the need for a tarmac runway for the F27, and the clearer approach paths required, a new airfield was soon under construction at the end of Brown Road (recently renamed Airport Drive). During construction of the airport, a small hill at the west end of the runway had to be levelled off, due to take-off and landing path infringements. This was rather controversial, due to said hill being a Māori burial ground. The government of the day decided to go ahead with construction anyway, and despite protests, the hill was levelled. Part of it still remains. The airport opened in 1966, replacing a grass airfield 3 km southwest, which is now industrial land. The foundation stone from the original airport, and a stone commemorating RNZAF Bell Block, were moved to the new airport when it opened.
The original terminal was renovated during the 1990s. The observation deck upstairs was removed at this time, and the outside observation area was removed in 2005, due to rising security concerns worldwide.
Facilities
New Plymouth Airport has two terminal buildings which is uncommon for regional New Zealand airports. The main terminal building is equipped with a cafe, a Koru Regional Lounge and Air New Zealand check-in counters.
The second terminal building known as Terminal 2 is occupied by low-cost airline Jetstar Airways. Terminal 2 is equipped with two Jetstar check-in desks and a baggage claim area. The two terminal buildings have 8 aircraft gates combined. Jetstar is expected to relocate into the main terminal building once upgrades to the airport are completed.
New Plymouth Airport has a control tower with services provided by Airways Corporation. It is staffed from 6am to around 8 pm on weekdays, and reduced hours on weekends, to coincide with airline traffic movements. There is also one fire rescue unit and another small emergency unit based at New Plymouth Airport.
The airport's only sealed taxiway connects the apron and the asphalt runway, so aircraft taxi on the runway, and commence take off roll from runway ends. New Plymouth Airport is infamous for crosswinds, due mostly to the fact that although the tarmac runway faces into the prevailing SSW wind the area regularly receives a strong SSE/SE. The cross runway is not sealed, and thus airline traffic is limited to the tarmac runway, parallel to the sea. The tarmac runway is equipped with low intensity runway lighting, runway end lighting, and Precision Approach Path Indicators. The sealed taxiway and apron are also lit. The airport has VOR/DME equipment. It was equipped with an NDB, but this was recently removed.
New Plymouth Aero Club and its Air New Plymouth charter service was based at the airport,until it ceased operations in 2014. Previously it carried out charter work and air ambulance services as well as providing a well recognised flight training facility.
General aviation aircraft are located at the airport as well as heritage De Havilland Vampire, an L-39 Albatross, four Yak 52s and a Catalina Flying Boat.
Airport terminal upgrades
New Plymouth District Council has confirmed that they have designed an iconic 22-million-dollar airport upgrade for New Plymouth Airport. The airport's terminal building opened in 1967 and was designed to handle just 60,000 passengers per year. In 2014, 343,572 people flew in and out of New Plymouth making it the 9th busiest airport in the country.
In an uncommon move, councillors - without any arguing - approved the most expensive option for the redevelopment, rejecting plans for a cheaper, more functional building.
The new master plan proposes a major expansion of the terminal so it will have a floor area of 2300 square meters instead of the current 1430 square meters. The terminal design features separate arrival and departure gates, moving the baggage claim to the other side of the terminal, a larger Air New Zealand lounge, more space for retail and the cafe, and the ability to create a passenger security area if required in the future. The master plan also proposes a two-stage runway extension to better cater for larger ATR aircraft which are now regularly using the airport. The current runway length limits their operation under certain conditions so the proposal is for an initial extension to 1500m and then potentially to 1700m.
Previous Airlines
Origin Pacific Airways used to operate Jetstream J31, Metroliner and Jetstream 41 aircraft to/from Auckland and to/from Nelson 6x weekly. NAC used to operate from New Plymouth with a Fokker F27 service.
Aircraft
(This list is approximate and may be incomplete)