Misplaced Pages

#287712

84-619: Whenuapai is a suburb and aerodrome located in northwestern Auckland , in the North Island of New Zealand . It is located on the shore of the Upper Waitematā Harbour , 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern Cross telecommunications Cables . The name Whenuapai was coined by resident Theophilus Wake, a Māori language name meaning "good land". When Wake settled in

168-510: A FBO and hangar facility for corporate jets and visiting general aviation aircraft on the western apron. Other notable operators on the western apron include Life Flight, the RNZAF and the Wellington Aero Club. Beginning in 2002, the airport built a bulk retail centre on land it owned to the west of the airport. Between 2009 and 2019 the airport issued various plans outlining upgrades over

252-488: A base in Evans Bay . Rongotai was still used for a frequent service to Blenheim and Nelson in 14-seater de Havilland Herons . Wellington Aero Club continued to operate from Rongotai, and the airport was also used occasionally by Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft as well as ambulance aircraft transporting patients to Wellington Hospital . The Aircraft Engineering Company had a flying school with three aeroplanes based at

336-505: A Whenuapai International Airport while the Waitakere City Council remained in favour. In 2010, all councils were amalgamated into the new Auckland Council and therefore support for a commercial airport was dropped. The proposal had also been opposed by the government. Whenuapai statistical area, which includes Herald Island , covers 17.03 km (6.58 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 6,340 as of June 2024, with

420-454: A landplane airport until 1960. The first part of the Coral Route was then operated by DC-6 from Whenuapai to Nadi. Airport diagram for 1956 Despite problems with its runway Whenuapai continued as Auckland's international airport through the 1950s. In 1960 the longest runway was 6590 feet (6664 ft a few years later) which allowed BOAC Comet flights, but larger jet airliners such as

504-583: A long glass wall overlooking the runway. Five new airbridges were also included in the development. In 2003, the airport installed a large statue of Gollum on the outside of the terminal in order to promote the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King . This Gollum was later removed, and a new sculpture of Gollum catching a fish was installed inside the terminal. In 2013 two one-tonne eagles with wingspans of 15 metres were installed inside

588-556: A metre which could start early 2015. In 2013, United Arab Emirates -based airline Emirates said it would consider Wellington as a destination while the airport operator said 1000 people connect with long-haul flights to and from the capital each day. Also in 2013, China Southern Airlines expressed interest in starting a Guangzhou to Wellington service. In late 2014, the Airport and the Wellington City Council jointly opened

672-451: A northwest to southeast alignment to match prevailing winds in the area, was extended in 1933. The first timetabled commercial flights into Rongotai Airport took place on 30 December 1935, when two de Havilland Express biplane airliners of Cook Strait Airways with paying passengers flew in from Nelson and Blenheim . During this period, concerns about safety were raised. Early aviator Charles Kingsford Smith flew into Wellington and

756-437: A population density of 372 people per km. Before the 2023 census, Whenuapai had a larger boundary, covering 19.68 km (7.60 sq mi). Using that boundary, Whenuapai had a population of 3,888 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 159 people (4.3%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 249 people (6.8%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,263 households, comprising 2,016 males and 1,872 females, giving

840-458: A sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 34.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 678 people (17.4%) aged under 15 years, 981 (25.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,815 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 411 (10.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 80.6% European/ Pākehā , 12.3% Māori , 5.8% Pacific peoples , 11.7% Asian , and 3.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas

924-488: A short time, Auckland had three aerodromes—the seaplane aerodrome at Mechanics Bay where Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) operated from 1940–54; the city's domestic airport—at the then small grass airstrip at Māngere , on the site of the present Auckland Airport ; and weekly Pan American and British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (the latter's services originally operated by Australian National Airways) services with DC-4s from Whenuapai. Also immediately post-war;

SECTION 10

#1732852570288

1008-481: A total of 3,455,858 passengers in the year ending June 2022, and the third busiest in terms of aircraft movements. The airport, in addition to linking many New Zealand destinations with national and regional carriers, also has links to major cities in eastern Australia. It is the home of some smaller general aviation businesses, including the Wellington Aero Club , which operates from the general aviation area on

1092-695: Is velodrome , an arena for velocipedes . Αεροδρόμιο is the word for airport in Modern Greek, which transliterates as aerodromio. In British military usage, the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War , and the Royal Air Force in the First and Second World Wars , used the term—it had the advantage that their French allies, on whose soil they were often based, and with whom they co-operated, used

1176-549: Is "a defined area on land or water (including any buildings, installations, and equipment) intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure, and surface movement of aircraft." The word aerodrome derives from Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr), air , and δρόμος (drómos), road or course , literally meaning air course . An ancient linguistic parallel is hippodrome (a stadium for horse racing and chariot racing ), derived from ἵππος (híppos), horse , and δρόμος (drómos), course . A modern linguistic parallel

1260-501: Is 1,815 m (5,955 ft) long threshold to threshold; with displaced thresholds at each end, the take-off run available is 1,945 m (6,381 ft) for runway 16 and 1,921 m (6,302 ft) for runway 34. The runway is grooved, which improves performance of the runway during wet conditions. The airport has a night curfew from midnight to 6:00   am, although international arrivals are allowed as late as 1:00   am and there are numerous conditions and exceptions to

1344-655: Is an international airport located in the suburb of Rongotai in Wellington , the capital of New Zealand . It lies 5.5 km (3.0 nmi; 3.4 mi) south-east from the city centre. It is a hub for Air New Zealand and Sounds Air . Wellington International Airport Limited, a joint venture between Infratil and the Wellington City Council , operates the airport. Wellington is the third busiest airport in New Zealand after Auckland and Christchurch , handling

1428-465: Is an aerodrome with significant facilities to support aircraft and crew. The term is usually reserved for military bases, but also applies to civil seaplane bases . An airstrip is a small aerodrome that consists only of a runway with perhaps fueling equipment. They are generally in remote locations, e.g. Airstrips in Tanzania . Many airstrips (now mostly abandoned) were built on the hundreds of islands in

1512-661: Is an area of open water used regularly by seaplanes , floatplanes and amphibious aircraft for landing and taking off. It may have a terminal building on land and/or a place where the plane can come to shore and dock like a boat to load and unload (for example, Yellowknife Water Aerodrome ). Some are co-located with a land based airport and are certified airports in their own right. These include Vancouver International Water Airport and Vancouver International Airport . Others, such as Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre have their own control tower, Vancouver Harbour Control Tower . The Canadian Aeronautical Information Manual says "...for

1596-492: Is now closed, with the RNZAF continuing to lease a few remaining facilities. Today, with a personnel strength of around 1100, Base Auckland is the home for: In 1945 the government made the RNZAF Station at Whenuapai available for civil airline operations on a temporary basis and with RNZAF activities to take precedence. That "temporary basis" lasted twenty years and the RNZAF had to give up their two smaller hangars and move to

1680-781: Is only accessed by road. The airport lies at the southern end of the North Island section of State Highway 1 , which connects the airport to Wellington City via the Mount Victoria Tunnel . SH 1 then continues to the Wellington Urban Motorway , which takes traffic out of the city and further afield to Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast , and also onwards to the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa via State Highway 2 . The distance from

1764-498: The Boeing 737-200 were not yet ETOPS -certified. The 747SP addressed this gap in the market, with Air New Zealand (after turning down an offer to purchase the type) code-sharing with Qantas. Special markings on the runway assisted Qantas pilots, to indicate where to touch down and to abort and go round to attempt a landing again. The 747SP service to Wellington continued until 1985, when Qantas and later Air New Zealand took delivery of

SECTION 20

#1732852570288

1848-497: The DC-8 and the B707 demanded a new international airport and work on Auckland Airport began. The first international flight from Auckland Airport was on 24 November 1965 and it officially opened on Anniversary Weekend (29–31 January), 1966 after which Whenuapai Airport reverted to purely military use as an Aerodrome. The operational tempo at Whenuapai continues at the level it has been at for

1932-635: The Gold Coast . On 21 September 2016 Singapore Airlines began direct flights between Singapore and Wellington via Australia's capital city Canberra . It was Wellington's first direct flight to a destination outside Australia and the Pacific Islands. From April 2018, the Singapore Airlines flight began transiting via Melbourne rather than Canberra. The flights were terminated in 2020. Execujet (in conjunction with Capital Jet services) operates

2016-616: The Pacific Ocean during the Second World War. A few airstrips grew to become full-fledged airbases as the strategic or economic importance of a region increased over time. An advanced landing ground was a temporary airstrip used by the Allies in the run-up to and during the invasion of Normandy , and these were built both in Britain, and on the continent. A water aerodrome or seaplane base

2100-506: The cognate term aérodrome . In Canada and Australia, aerodrome is a legal term of art for any area of land or water used for aircraft operation, regardless of facilities. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) documents use the term aerodrome , for example, in the Annex to the ICAO Convention about aerodromes, their physical characteristics, and their operation. However,

2184-402: The 747SP has a much shorter fuselage than other 747 variants. Air New Zealand operated Douglas DC-8s from Wellington on trans-Tasman routes, but when they were retired in 1981 none of its other aircraft were capable of operating international flights from Wellington – Air New Zealand's McDonnell Douglas DC-10s required more runway length than Wellington had available, and twinjets such as

2268-565: The Auckland region already lived closer to the aerodrome than to Māngere Airport and that it was projected that within 15 years Whenuapai would be closer for more than a million Aucklanders. The three local authorities that comprised the north west sector of the Auckland Region, Rodney District Council , North Shore City Council and Waitakere City Council all favoured the second airport concept at one time or another and at least one poll, by

2352-476: The Council agreed to the proposal and allocated reserve land at Lyall Bay for the purpose. Up to 150 labourers levelled the sand dunes and laid down a surface of broken rock and clay to stop the sand blowing away. This was then sown with grass. The official opening of the airport took place on 16 November 1929 with flying displays by 15 aeroplanes doing "crazy flying", "bombing" and races. The runway, which ran in

2436-625: The Domestic Lounge located after security screening in the south-west pier for members travelling domestically on Air New Zealand jet aircraft, and the International Lounge located after outbound passport control in the north-west pier for members travelling internationally. Qantas also operates a lounge after outbound passport control in the north-west pier; the lounge is available to Qantas Club members departing on international flights. Wellington Airport has one runway: 16/34. The runway

2520-525: The Miramar Golf Course in 1994 for car park space. As recently as 1992, several alternate sites for Wellington Airport were considered – Te Horo , Paraparaumu , Mana Island , Ohariu Valley , Horokiwi , Wairarapa and Pencarrow – but a decision was made to upgrade the existing site at Rongotai. A major new domestic terminal was completed in 1999 and integrated with the international terminal, which had been built in 1977. A 90 m safety zone at

2604-574: The Public Works Act, the New Zealand Government several hundred acres of land at Whenuapai, in order to create a base for Wellington bomber , prior to the onset of World War II . Post World War II Auckland became a centre for RNZAF transport and maritime squadrons. From 1945 to 1965 Whenuapai was also Auckland's civil international airport. Whenuapai and Hobsonville bases were integrated in 1965 to form RNZAF Base Auckland . Hobsonville

Whenuapai - Misplaced Pages Continue

2688-483: The RNZAF operated many of the civil services while National Airways Corporation (NAC) was being organised, and to add to the confusion; some of Auckland's domestic services departed from Whenuapai as well. Hills adjacent to the Whenuapai site limited the ability of new generation aircraft to use the site. In 1947 the government closed Māngere to all but light aircraft citing safety concerns, and NAC moved to Whenuapai. (At

2772-399: The Waitakere City Council in late 2006, indicated 77% support and 22% opposition by the public. However, in the local body elections of October 2007, the pro-airport North Shore City mayor was defeated by an anti-airport mayoral candidate with indications that the airport issue was the most important of factors considered by voters. Subsequently, North Shore City Council reversed support for

2856-474: The Web site Connect Wellington to promote the case for a runway extension. In January 2016, Singapore Airlines announced that it would begin services to Wellington via Canberra. The route, dubbed "The Capital Express", flew to Wellington via Canberra four times a week, using a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The 777-200 was able to use Wellington Airport because the amount of fuel needed to fly between Wellington and Canberra

2940-560: The airport has seen a number of wide-body movements over the years for heads of state and visiting foreign dignitaries, diversions or special promotional events. Singapore Airlines formerly operated a Wellington- Melbourne - Singapore flight four times per week, using an Airbus A350-900 . A full-length runway extension to accommodate long-haul international flights has been previously investigated, but would require expensive land reclamation into Lyall Bay , and massive breakwater protection from Cook Strait . Doubts have existed over

3024-521: The airport have put forward their case to various international airlines for long-haul operations to and from Wellington, pointing out that Christchurch's economy is mainly industrial and agricultural, while arguing that Wellington's economy is based mainly on what they see as the higher-value public service, financial, ICT , and creative sectors. In particular, a survey commissioned by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce found that respondents regarded

3108-625: The airport is limited to buses as the airport is quite distant from the Wellington railway station, making it difficult to link Wellington Airport to the CBD via a rail link. Feasibility studies, such as the Greater Wellington Regional Council 's Ngauranga to Wellington Airport Corridor Plan, have been carried out to address this gap in the network, with light rail being touted as a solution by some public transport advocates. In spite of

3192-534: The airport on a commercial basis, and non-stop overseas destinations are limited to southeastern Australia and the South Pacific. Most large jet aircraft can safely use Wellington but the short runway severely limits their range to short-haul flights, and passenger numbers on trans-Tasman routes generally do not justify the use of wide-body aircraft. Air New Zealand has occasionally used wide-body aircraft to cater for high-demand events such as major sports fixtures, and

3276-546: The airport to be retained there. After several options for development were considered, Wellington City Council agreed to the Rongotai Terrace scheme in February 1951. This scheme saved Rongotai College and provided for a north-south runway. A major part of the scheme involved the complete removal of Rongotai Hill. Construction of the airport began in 1953, with the six-year project costing £5 million. Spoil from Rongotai Hill

3360-514: The airport to the city centre is roughly 8 km (5.0 mi). Several taxi and shuttle companies serve the airport. Metlink bus route 2 (between the CBD and Miramar/Seatoun) has a stop within walking distance of the terminal and connects to Metlink train services at Wellington railway station. The Metlink Airport Express bus service, which began on 1 July 2022, links the Wellington CBD directly with Wellington Airport. Public transport to

3444-508: The airport's limited international capacity as the biggest obstacle to the Wellington region's economic potential, by a long margin over other factors. It has also been pointed out that while Air New Zealand has been scaling back certain routes, it is adding others, most notably Auckland - Shanghai from 6 November 2006. According to WIAL in 2009, the forthcoming Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 were originally predicted to have improved runway performance over existing long-haul aircraft, opening up

Whenuapai - Misplaced Pages Continue

3528-466: The airport, and the de Havilland Aircraft Company had an aircraft maintenance facility. With the closure of Rongotai Airport, the government had invited a British commission to report on New Zealand airports. The Tymms Report produced in 1948 recommended that the isthmus at Rongotai was still the best site for an airport in Wellington, and Wellington City Council and the Chamber of Commerce also lobbied for

3612-486: The area in 1911, he chose the name Waimarie , meaning "calm waters". As the settlement grew, Wake applied for a post office to be established for the community. The post office service required a different name, due to another location named Waimarie, and Wake chose the name Whenuapai instead. The name Whenuapai was officially adopted on 23 March 1914, and the first references to Whenuapai in newspapers can be found from May 1914. The traditional Te Kawerau ā Maki name for

3696-533: The area is Rarawaru , which is the name of the stream that flows north from Whenuapai to the Upper Waitematā Harbour . A kāinga was located on the shores of the stream, Te Rarawaru , which took its name from the stream, Wai Rarawaru . In the 19th century, northern Whenuapai was the location of Ockleston's pottery, a brickworks located on the Kotukutuku Inlet of the Waitematā Harbour . The area

3780-489: The building and it was demolished in 2021. Since 1998 the airport has been two-thirds privately owned by Infratil , with the remaining third owned by Wellington City Council . In late May 2024, Wellington City Council voted in favour of selling its 34% minority stake (worth NZ$ 278 million) in Wellington Airport, with the proceeds going towards a major disaster investment fund. Wellington's original domestic terminal

3864-693: The codeshare would stifle competition and passenger growth on Wellington's international flights, pointing to what it saw as a market duopoly dominated by Air New Zealand and Qantas. The codeshare was abandoned by the two airlines after it was rejected in a draft ruling by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission in November 2006. Fiji Airways began serving Wellington from Nadi on 25 June 2015. Australian airline Jetstar launched its first international service in December 2014 from Wellington to

3948-451: The curfew, e.g. air ambulances are not subject to the curfew. In 2011, Qantas subsidiary Jetconnect was fined $ 12,000 after a delayed flight from Sydney landed at 1:47   am. Air Movements Rongotai sits on the opposite side of the Wellington airport runway from the main passenger terminals, its main use being the facilitation of Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) flights and flights of overseas military forces. The current building

4032-811: The early aerodromes obsolete. The unimproved airfield remains a phenomenon in military aspects. The DHC-4 Caribou served in the United States military in Vietnam (designated as the CV-2), landing on rough, unimproved airfields where the C-130 Hercules workhorse could not operate. Earlier, the Ju 52 and Fieseler Storch could do the same, one example of the latter taking off from the Führerbunker whilst completely surrounded by Soviet troops. In colloquial use in certain environments,

4116-519: The east and west, and by Evans Bay in Wellington Harbour to the north and Cook Strait to the south. Wellington has a reputation for sometimes rough and turbulent landings, even in larger aircraft, due to the channelling effect of Cook Strait creating strong and gusty winds, especially in pre-frontal north-westerly conditions. Wellington Aero Club formed in 1928 and asked Wellington City Council to set aside land for an airport. In October 1928,

4200-421: The eastern end of Lyall Bay was lowered to improve the approach to the runway. In 1937 a government committee investigated possibilities for improving the airport, but its suggestion that a runway be constructed from north to south across the isthmus from Evans Bay to Lyall Bay, which would have entailed removal of Rongotai College and demolition or removal of up to 150 houses, was deemed unpalatable. The runway

4284-428: The ground floor. Both connect to a retail and refreshment area on the first floor, looking out onto the runway. The gates in the south pier (Gates 3 to 12) and the gates in the main terminal building (Gates 18 to 20) serve regional aircraft. The gates in the south-west pier (Gates 13 to 17) are predominantly used by Air New Zealand domestic jets, and with the exception of Gate 14, all are jetbridge gates. The gates in

SECTION 50

#1732852570288

4368-685: The last forty years, although the closure of the adjacent Hobsonville base has seen the departure of rotary operations (primarily the UH1H Iroquois) to RNZAF Base Ohakea. With the budget for moving the base to Ohakea exceeding one billion dollars, the previously scheduled closure by the New Zealand Labour government (originally by 2007, then 2010 or, at latest, 2014) was cancelled by the incoming National government of 2008. There were suggestions that it be used as Auckland's second international Airport. Reasons put forward in favour were that more people in

4452-491: The more capable and economical Boeing 767 -200ER type. During this time Pan Am took an interest in the operation of 747SPs into the capital and proposed a possible long-range service to the US via Hawaii. However, the New Zealand Government refused Pan Am's request for the route, citing Auckland Airport as the main gateway for overseas flights and the ability to generate passenger numbers amongst other things. Wellington Airport

4536-452: The most part, all of Canada can be an aerodrome", however, there are also "registered aerodromes" and "certified airports". To become a registered aerodrome, the operator must maintain certain standards and keep the Minister of Transport informed of any changes. To be certified as an airport the aerodrome, which usually supports commercial operations, must meet safety standards. Nav Canada ,

4620-430: The next 20 years, including expanded terminal and apron space, runway extensions, terminal extensions, new freight facilities and a relocated fire station. In 2018, a nine-storey car park with more than 1,000 parking spaces was opened, and in 2019 a 134-room hotel opened at the airport, with direct access from the terminal. In 2018, a new air traffic control tower opened next to the airport retail centre. The building

4704-536: The north apron of their own airfield. In the 1940s Whenuapai was one of three aerodromes in the country with sealed runways, the others being Paraparaumu and Ohakea . Whenuapai was adopted as the international airport for Auckland, despite the benefits of the location of the Mangere Aerodrome , due to its ongoing use by the RNZAF meaning there were no additional costs for the Auckland City Council . For

4788-506: The north-west pier (Gates 21 to 29) are used by Jetstar domestic jets and all international flights: when transferred to international use, these gates are referred to as Gates 41 to 49 (e.g. Gate 26 is referred to as Gate 46 when used for an international flight). Air New Zealand operates three lounges for Koru members : the Regional Lounge on the second floor of the main terminal for members travelling regionally on turboprop aircraft,

4872-521: The possibility of direct air links to Asia and the Americas if commercially viable. However, when the B787 was introduced into service, it was found that the "actual performance was not as favourable as was originally envisaged", prompting a decision to extend the north end of the runway. In 2011, the Wellington City Council, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and local business leaders reiterated their support for lengthening

4956-1044: The private company responsible for air traffic control services in Canada, publishes the Canada Flight Supplement , a directory of all registered Canadian land aerodromes, as well as the Canada Water Aerodrome Supplement (CWAS). Casement Aerodrome is the main military airport used by the Irish Air Corps . The term "aerodrome" is used for airports and airfields of lesser importance in Ireland, such as those at Abbeyshrule ; Bantry ; Birr ; Inisheer ; Inishmaan ; Inishmore ; Newcastle, County Wicklow ; and Trim . Wellington International Airport Wellington International Airport ( IATA : WLG , ICAO : NZWN ) — formerly known as Rongotai Aerodrome or Rongotai Airport , or simply Wellington Airport —

5040-511: The route with a DC-4; and the Pacific Service was handed over to TEAL in 1952. The next major development at Whenuapai was in May 1954, when British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines was wound up, its DC-6s given to TEAL, and that airline sold all except two of its flying boats and moved to Whenuapai. It kept one Solent in reserve and sent the other to Suva to fly the leg to Tahiti, which didn't get

5124-443: The runway, as part of the Airport's 2030 Long Term Plan, but questions were raised about a possible conflict of interest regarding the then incumbent Mayor's role on Infratil's board of directors. The same year, Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy called for further action on a runway extension, with a spokesman for the airport confirming a proposal to lengthen the southern end of the runway by 300 m at an estimated cost of $ 1 million

SECTION 60

#1732852570288

5208-469: The same time, the government closed Wellington's Rongotai Airport , for the same reasons, and NAC had to move to Paraparaumu, 35 miles from the city.) In addition to domestic services, NAC flew a DC-3 weekly to Norfolk Island from Whenuapai, and fortnightly on a route that took a week each way; Whenuapai—Norfolk Island— Nadi — Apia — Tongatapu — Aitutaki — Rarotonga . The Norfolk Island service continued until 1955 when Qantas, chartered to TEAL, took over

5292-424: The south end of the runway was constructed in order to comply with ICAO safety regulations, while a similar zone has been put in place at the runway's north end. In April 2006, Air New Zealand and Qantas announced that they proposed to enter into a codeshare agreement, arguing that it would be necessary in order to reduce empty seats and financial losses on trans-Tasman routes. The airport counter-argued that

5376-649: The term "aerodrome" (or "airfield") remains more common in Commonwealth English , and is conversely almost unknown in American English , where the term "airport" is applied almost exclusively. A water aerodrome is an area of open water used regularly by seaplanes , floatplanes or amphibious aircraft for landing and taking off. In formal terminology, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an aerodrome

5460-475: The terminal to promote the second film in the Hobbit trilogy. On 19 February 2008, Wellington Airport announced the proposed design for a new, expanded international terminal. The design, by Studio Pacific Architecture and Warren and Mahoney , was a deliberate departure from traditional airport terminal design. Featuring round structures covered in weathered copper, the design aroused a great deal of controversy and

5544-479: The terms airport and aerodrome are often interchanged. However, in general, the term airport may imply or confer a certain stature upon the aviation facility that other aerodromes may not have achieved. In some jurisdictions, airport is a legal term of art reserved exclusively for those aerodromes certified or licensed as airports by the relevant civil aviation authority after meeting specified certification criteria or regulatory requirements. An air base

5628-539: The terms airfield or airport mostly superseded use of aerodrome after the Second World War, in colloquial language. In the early days of aviation, when there were no paved runways and all landing fields were grass, a typical airfield might permit takeoffs and landings in only a couple of directions, much like today's airports, whereas an aerodrome was distinguished, by virtue of its much greater size, by its ability to handle landings and takeoffs in any direction. The ability to always take off and land directly into

5712-473: The viability of such an undertaking, particularly as Air New Zealand has repeatedly indicated that it has no interest in pursuing international service beyond Australia and the Pacific Islands, and few international airlines have shown serious interest in providing services beyond those points. Air New Zealand has questioned potential demand for such flights, citing the axing of its Christchurch - Los Angeles route in early 2006. Regional business organisations and

5796-488: The western side of the runway. The airport comprises a small 110-hectare (270-acre) site on the Rongotai isthmus, a stretch of low-lying land between Wellington proper and the hilly Miramar Peninsula . It operates a single 2,081-metre (6,827 ft) runway with ILS in both directions. The airport handles turboprop, narrow-body and wide-body jet aircraft movements. The airport is bordered by residential and commercial areas to

5880-447: The wind, regardless of the wind's direction, was an important advantage in the earliest days of aviation when an airplane's performance in a crosswind takeoff or landing might be poor or even dangerous. The development of differential braking in aircraft, improved aircraft performance, utilization of paved runways, and the fact that a circular aerodrome required much more space than did the "L" or triangle shaped airfield, eventually made

5964-554: Was $ 43,800, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 765 people (23.8%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,902 (59.3%) people were employed full-time, 486 (15.1%) were part-time, and 96 (3.0%) were unemployed. Aerodrome The term airport may imply a certain stature (having satisfied certain certification criteria or regulatory requirements) that not all aerodromes may have achieved. That means that all airports are aerodromes, but not all aerodromes are airports. Usage of

6048-467: Was 24.2, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.3% had no religion, 29.8% were Christian , 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.8% were Hindu , 0.7% were Muslim , 1.2% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 789 (24.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 345 (10.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income

6132-414: Was built as a temporary measure inside an existing corrugated iron hangar, originally used to assemble de Havilland aircraft. It was known for being overcrowded, leaky and draughty. An international terminal was opened in 1977. An upgrade of the domestic terminal, budgeted at NZ$ 10 million, was announced in 1981, but by 1983 the plans were shelved after cost projections more than doubled. The terminal

6216-458: Was designed by Studio Pacific and Paris Magdalinos Architects. The eight-storey building is constructed on a 12.5 degree angle as if leaning into the prevailing northerly wind, and is built to stand up to a 10-metre high tsunami wave. The former control tower at Tirangi Road was then put up for sale by Airways New Zealand, but was found to be unsuitable for redevelopment due to structural issues and asbestos contamination. Wellington Airport bought

6300-525: Was extended and other improvements made, but the 1937 committee had warned that the airport was not safe, and finally on 27 September 1947 the airport closed and almost all commercial flights were moved to Paraparaumu Airport , 35 miles (56 km) north of Wellington. Paraparaumu Airport soon became the country's busiest airport, but it was deemed unsuitable for large aircraft due to adverse terrain. Between 1950 and 1954, TEAL (the forerunner of Air New Zealand ) also operated flying boats to Australia from

6384-433: Was extended to 1,936 metres (6,352 ft) in the early 1970s, to handle Douglas DC-8s . In 1991, the airport released plans to widen the taxiway to CAA Code D & E specifications and acquire extra space, which were abandoned after protests from local residents. The plan involved the removal of the nearby Miramar Golf Course and a large number of residential and commercial properties. The Airport purchased land from

6468-433: Was extensively refurbished in 1987 by Air New Zealand , and Ansett New Zealand built a new terminal as an extension to the international terminal when it commenced competing domestic air services in 1987. In 1999 a new domestic terminal opened, linked to the international terminal. Designed by architect Jon Craig from Craig Craig Moller, the three-storey terminal has an open-plan retail, refreshment and seating area with

6552-453: Was nicknamed "The Rock". "The Rock" opened in October 2010. Wellington Airport operates a single terminal at the east of the airport, with three piers: south, south-west and north-west. The terminal and piers have a total floor area of 32,300 square metres (348,000 sq ft). The main terminal building contains a common check-in area on the first floor and a common baggage claim area on

6636-495: Was redirected via Melbourne instead of Canberra. In 2019, Singapore Airlines announced that they would replace the 777-200 aircraft with the A350-900, starting on 1 November 2019. On 8 May 2024, the Airport announced a pause on plans for a runway extension, in order to get consent to rebuild the southern seawall. Because of the runway limitations, Qantas introduced Boeing 747SPs on flights between Wellington and Australia in 1981;

6720-519: Was refurbished in the late 1980s when it housed not only the RNZAF Air movements unit but also 2 MCU (2nd Movements Control Unit) of the New Zealand Army. The role of 2 MCU was the logistic control and movement of defence personal and freight throughout New Zealand and abroad, utilising both civilian and military modes of transport. The length of the runway has limited the size of aircraft that can use

6804-478: Was relatively small; it could not take off from Wellington Airport if it carried the fuel required to fly non-stop to Singapore. The Deputy Mayor of Wellington argued that Singapore Airlines' commitment to the capital helped the case for an airport runway extension, and showed that airlines are looking to fly to Wellington and that the extension would cater for that in the future. In 2018, the Capital Express route

6888-503: Was said to be "perturbed" about conditions at Rongotai, where wind swirled around and the hills were very close. Along with others, he believed that Gear Island at the mouth of the Hutt River in Petone would be a better site for a commercial airport. A scale model of the landscape around the airport was made and tested in a wind tunnel, and, starting in 1936, the height of Moa Point Hill at

6972-417: Was settled by pacifist Theophilus Wake in 1911. Wake was joined by other like-minded pacifists in the 1910s, and a community developed at Whenuapai. Tobacco was grown as a crop in Whenuapai and by 1929 more than 120,000 pounds of tobacco were produced at Whenuapai and nearby Riverheard . By 1940 however tobacco production would cease and Motueka became the main area for tobacco cultivation. In 1938 under

7056-418: Was used to reclaim land in Evans Bay and Lyall Bay. About 180 houses at Rongotai Terrace and Wexford Road on the hill were demolished or relocated to the newly reclaimed land at Evans Bay. A pedestrian tunnel from Coutts Street to Miramar was built under the new runway. The current airport was officially reopened on 25 October 1959. The original length of the runway was 1,630 metres (5,350 ft), and it

#287712