Nelson Airport (New Zealand)

Nelson Airport
Te Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū
Nelson Airport, 1977
IATA: NSNICAO: NZNS
NSN
Location of airport in Marlborough
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Nelson Airport Limited
Location Nelson, New Zealand
Elevation AMSL 17 ft / 5 m
Website www.NelsonAirport.co.nz
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
02R/20L 1,347 4,420 Asphalt
02L/20R 731 2,398 Grass/Dirt
06/24 670 2,200 Grass/Dirt
17/35 600 1,970 Grass/Dirt
Statistics (2011)
Passengers 758,250
Sources: Airport[1], AIP[2], DAFIF[3][4], [5]

Nelson Airport (Māori: Te Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū, (IATA: NSNICAO: NZNS)) is an airport in Nelson, New Zealand. Approximately 1.2 million passengers and visitors are said to use the airport terminal annually.[6] Total passenger numbers for the 2011 financial year were 758,250. This represents passenger growth of approximately 11% on the previous year.[7]

Construction of Nelson Airport commenced in 1937.[8] In 2006, the airport received restricted international airport status, and it has handled international private jets since then. In terms of scheduled aircraft movements Nelson is the fourth busiest airport in New Zealand. The airport averages 90 aircraft movements every day, with a plane taking off or landing every 4.5 minutes during scheduled hours.

Nelson airport is the home base of Air Nelson (Air New Zealand Link) which operates a fleet of Bombardier Dash 8 Q300s on regional air routes. Recently, Air New Zealand, (Air Nelson's parent airline) has expanded its Nelson base. The national carrier invested 30 million dollars to develop infrastructure in Nelson, including a maintenance hangar for Air Nelson's fleet of Q300 aircraft which are too large for the existing facility. Air New Zealand then announced that the Air Nelson maintenance facility would also handle fellow subsidiary, Mount Cook Airline's fleet of ATR 72-500 aircraft. Nelson Airport has also received permission from the Nelson City Council to international flights using private jets.[9]

Contents

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled

Airlines Destinations
Air New Zealand operated by Air Nelson Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington
Air2there Paraparaumu
Sounds Air Wellington

Charter

Sounds Air offer a number of scenic and charter flight services out of Nelson. Popular charters are Karamea and Awaroa. Sounds Air provide's the main air link into Awaroa for Awaroa Lodge. The best way to view the Abel Tasman or Marlborough Sounds is in the air!

References

  1. ^ Nelson Airport, official site
  2. ^ Charts for NZNS at AIP New Zealand
  3. ^ Airport information for NZNS at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
  4. ^ Airport information for NSN / NZNS at Great Circle Mapper. Source: AIP, CAA, DAFIF.
  5. ^ http://www.nelsonairport.co.nz/airport_services.php?page=reportsandplans
  6. ^ Welcome to Nelson Airport
  7. ^ http://www.nelsonairport.co.nz/airport_services.php?page=reportsandplans
  8. ^ Nelson Aerodrome, Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1937, Page 7
  9. ^ "Air Nelson to be given leeway over expansion". The Nelson Mail. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/4297068a6510.html. Retrieved 27 October 2011. 
  10. ^ Sounds Air

External links