Kerikeri Airport
| Kerikeri Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Far North Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Kerikeri | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 492 ft / 150 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°15′46″S 173°54′43″E / 35.26278°S 173.91194°E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www.kerikeri-airport.co.nz | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
  KKE Location of airport in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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.[1] 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.[2]
The Sixth Labour Government announced on March 16 2018 the airport in Kerikeri needed a new terminal to keep up with demand, as it was one of the fastest-growing regional airports in the country. The current terminal is not fit for purpose and does not meet Air New Zealand's requirements, while growth in passenger numbers is also putting pressure on the existing facilities. The project will improve connectivity for tourism, the local community and businesses in the Far North and help support the growing tourism sector and create new jobs. The money will come out of the annual $1 billion provincial growth fund, which was part of the coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First announced by the Regional economic development minister Shane Jones.[3]
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.
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air New Zealand | Auckland[4] |
See also
References
- ↑ Graaf, Peter de (21 October 2014). "Bumper airport spend to boost tourism" – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
- ↑ de Graaf, Peter (October 31, 2016). "Bay of Islands airport terminal to expand". The Northern Advocate.
- ↑ "$7m infrastructure upgrade for Bay of Islands". Radio New Zealand. March 16, 2018.
- ↑ http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/kerikeri-flight-changes.html Kerikeri Flight Changes