Palmerston North International Airport

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Palmerston North International Airport
IATA: PMR - ICAO: NZPM
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Palmerston North International Airport
Serves Palmerston North
Elevation AMSL 151 ft (46 m)
Coordinates 40°19′14″S, 175°37′01″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
07L/25R 6,240 1,902 Asphalt
07R/25L 1,995 608 Grass

Palmerston North International Airport (IATA: PMRICAO: NZPM) is located on the outskirts of the suburb of Milson in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is only 5 Kilometres north-east of the City central area. Although the airport has not had a regular international flight since the end of March, 2008, the official name, Palmerston North International Airport still remains. The airport handled 542,816 passengers for the year ending 31 December 2006 (461,542 domestic and 81,274 international)[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The first airfield on this site was created by the Milson Aerodrome Society in 1931, comprising a grass runway. It was used exclusively for private flights. The first commercial flights began in 1936, operated by Union Airways, and the airport was also used as a military facility in World War II. When the National Airways Corporation began using the airport in the 1950s the runway was sealed and a terminal building was constructed; jets started landing at the airport in 1975, beginning with a Boeing 737. A new terminal was constructed in 1992 and regular international flights began being offered in 1996. A Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767 landed at the airport on 10 March 2003, making it the first 767 to land at the airport. Since Freedom Air was scrapped, there have been no international flights at this time.

[edit] World Record

On May 17, 1998, ten people towed a fully fuelled Freedom Air Boeing 737-300 over 100 metres in 47 seconds, to celebrate the opening of the new runway extensions. The record was logged in the Guinness World Records.

[edit] Services

There were two regular international services departing from this airport, to Sydney and Brisbane operated by Freedom Air, however services ended in March 2008.[1]. Previously, flights also operated to Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and Nadi. The airport also receives a number of domestic flights. Flights from Air Post, Air Freight, Massey University's School of Aviation, commuter airlines such as Air2there, Air National, Vincent Aviation and Rescue Fire Services also use Palmerston North International Airport. The airport is also used for training purposes by RNZAF squadrons based at the nearby Ohakea base.

[edit] Facilities

The current terminal is a two storey building containing:

  • a cafeteria and bar
  • a duty-free shop
  • a bookstore
  • a Union Airways Gallery exhibition of early commercial flight in New Zealand.

[edit] Airlines and Destinations

[edit] International

All International Services have now been suspended.

[edit] Domestic

[edit] Former airlines

[edit] Incidents

[edit] References

[edit] External links