| Norfolk Island Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: NLK – ICAO: YSNF | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Administration of Norfolk Island | ||
| Serves | Norfolk Island | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 371 ft / 113 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Website | |||
| Map | |||
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YSNF
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 11/29 | 1,950 | 6,398 | Asphalt |
| 04/22 | 1,435 | 4,708 | Asphalt |
| Sources: Source: Australian AIP,[1] DAFIF[2][3] | |||
Norfolk Island Airport (IATA: NLK, ICAO: YSNF) is the only airport on Norfolk Island, an external territory of Australia. The island is located in the Pacific Ocean between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. The airport is operated by the Administration of Norfolk Island.[1]
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The airstrip was built during World War II as a defensive measure to counter feared Japanese operations in the South Pacific. As Norfolk Island did not have enough flat ground, several bulldozers were used to knock the tops off of several hills, and fill in the valleys between them.[4] Steel mesh was then used to make a solid surface.
Initially used for bomber patrols and for a transport service to Bougainville Island, the airfield was never used as a major base and became a stopover for aircraft travelling between Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands. The Royal New Zealand Air Force left the airfield in July 1946. At the airfield was an air-sea rescue unit, a servicing section and a radar unit installation at Mount Bates.[5]
Norfolk Island is an important transit and refueling point for light aircraft flying between Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
Located 852 km (460 nautical miles) southeast of Norfolk is Kaitaia Airport the most northerly airfield in New Zealand, 754 km (407 nautical miles) north is Noumea Airport in New Caledonia, and 900 km (486 nautical miles) west is Lord Howe Island Airport which is 600 km (323 nautical miles) 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.
The airport resides at an elevation of 371 feet (113 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 11/29 measuring 1,950 by 45 metres (6,398 × 148 ft) and 04/22 measuring 1,435 by 30 metres (4,708 × 98 ft).[1]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air New Zealand | Auckland, Sydney [begins 2 March], Brisbane [begins 2 March] |
| Norfolk Air operated by Our Airline | Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney [Norfolk Air will terminate all its services from March 2012] |
Flights to the Gold Coast and Hamilton, New Zealand were terminated by Norfolk Air in 2008.
Norfolk Island Airport was ranked 50th in Australia for the number of revenue passengers served in financial year 2009-2010.[6]
| Year | Revenue passengers | Aircraft movements |
|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 |
59,562
|
744
|
| 2002-03 |
72,781
|
1,091
|
| 2003-04 |
81,470
|
1,199
|
| 2004-05 |
72,801
|
939
|
| 2005-06 |
62,483
|
691
|
| 2006-07 |
73,163
|
913
|
| 2007-08 |
75,925
|
1,027
|
| 2008-09 |
64,782
|
951
|
| 2009-10 |
61,594
|
863
|