- Whangarei Airport
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Whangarei Airport 
IATA: WRE – ICAO: NZWR Location of airport in Northland
WRESummary Airport type Public Operator Whangarei District Airport Location Whangarei Elevation AMSL 133 ft / 40.5 m Coordinates 35°46′06″S 174°21′54″E / 35.76833°S 174.365°E Runways Direction Length Surface ft m 06/24 3,599 1,097 Asphalt 14/32 1,558 475 Grass Whangarei Aerodrome (IATA: WRE, ICAO: NZWR) 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.
Contents
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 aircraft, along with Ansett New Zealand.
In 2002, direct flights linking Whangarei to Wellington International Airport were begun, using Eagle Airways' new Beechcraft 1900s, and became Eagle's longest regular flight service, at 626 km.[1]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.[2]
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. [3]
Airlines and destinations
Three Eagle Airways Beechcraft 1900Ds at Whangarei Airport
Whangarei has several destinations, the furthest away being Wellington at 626 km.
Airlines Destinations Air New Zealand operated by Eagle Airways Auckland, Wellington[4] Great Barrier Airlines Great Barrier Island, Auckland Salt Air Auckland, Kerikeri, North Shore [5] 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 [6]), 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'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.
Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways has a maintenance base in Whangarei, where two aircraft per night are maintained by Northland Aviation Ltd. Eagle Airways also conduct flight training for their pilots from Whangarei during the weekend, when spare aircraft are available for this use.
References
- ^ Eagle Airways
- ^ Air New Zealand
- ^ http://www.wdc.govt.nz/xml/ps.aspx?fn=/resources/13149/top-flight-job-done-on-runway-extension.html
- ^ http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/before-you-fly/route-maps/new-zealand-routes.htm
- ^ Salt Air Ltd. - Scheduled Flight Services Whangarei/Auckland - North Shore
- ^ http://www.qegroup.co.nz
External links
Categories:- Airports in New Zealand
- Whangarei District
- Buildings and structures in Whangarei
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