Post by vgp on Mar 28, 2008 11:07:28 GMT 12
Airport planning to spread its wings
By WARWICK RASMUSSEN - Waikato Times | Friday, 28 March 2008
Hamilton International Airport wants to add Asian and possibly American destinations to its schedule as part of an ambitious long-term goal to become the North Island's second-biggest airport.
Chief executive Chris Doak revealed the vision to Hamilton City Council's finance and audit committee yesterday as part of a briefing on the company's performance and plans for the future. The council is the majority shareholder of the company, Waikato Regional Airport Ltd.
With the airport's $15 million terminal upgrade completed, it was now time to look at growing the business, Mr Doak said. Key to that was making a strong case to extend the runway from 2200m to close to 2700m, which would allow larger wide-body jets such as 767s and 777s to use Hamilton.
"The runway extension is something we need to put to bed."
Mr Doak said much of this year's strategic work would focus on coming up with a solid business case for the runway extension and seeking out interest from international airlines. Any extension would be made to the northern end of the runway. Exact lengths and costs would be worked on throughout the year, Mr Doak said.
An extension would help make Hamilton a more attractive choice for smaller international carriers such as Pacific Blue, JetStar and Singapore-based Tiger Airways, he said. International expansion into Asia, and possibly even the Americas, was some time off, but was on the long-term radar for the company.
"The platform of a new airport terminal is in place and management's focus will now firmly shift to building the business," Mr Doak said. "The decision for any airline to fly in and out of Hamilton lies squarely with each airline. We've just got to make it as attractive as we can for them."
Mr Doak stressed that a lot of work had to be done before flights to Asia and America were taking off from Hamilton. "Having the capability doesn't mean you do do it today, it means you can do it," he said.
Annual international passenger numbers at Hamilton International Airport plummeted 25 per cent in 2007, mainly because of Air New Zealand-owned Freedom Air's decision to ditch Fiji and Melbourne as destinations last year.
Mr Doak said the airport needed to look beyond Australia as its sole international destination. "The transtasman market is not a panacea to make money."
He said the airport was in negotiations with an international airline about adding more routes, but could not say more because of commercial sensitivity. On a longer-term scale, Mr Doak said the airport had the vision of becoming the North Island's second-largest airport.
"We have the opportunity, some time in the future, to have the vision of being an Auckland (Airport) number two." He said that out of all airports in New Zealand, Hamilton was in the best position to expand because it had the space to move and owned enough surrounding land.
Freedom Air's last flight from Hamilton was scheduled today after almost 13 years of service. Air New Zealand takes over the routes from tomorrow.
www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4455270a6004.html
By WARWICK RASMUSSEN - Waikato Times | Friday, 28 March 2008
Hamilton International Airport wants to add Asian and possibly American destinations to its schedule as part of an ambitious long-term goal to become the North Island's second-biggest airport.
Chief executive Chris Doak revealed the vision to Hamilton City Council's finance and audit committee yesterday as part of a briefing on the company's performance and plans for the future. The council is the majority shareholder of the company, Waikato Regional Airport Ltd.
With the airport's $15 million terminal upgrade completed, it was now time to look at growing the business, Mr Doak said. Key to that was making a strong case to extend the runway from 2200m to close to 2700m, which would allow larger wide-body jets such as 767s and 777s to use Hamilton.
"The runway extension is something we need to put to bed."
Mr Doak said much of this year's strategic work would focus on coming up with a solid business case for the runway extension and seeking out interest from international airlines. Any extension would be made to the northern end of the runway. Exact lengths and costs would be worked on throughout the year, Mr Doak said.
An extension would help make Hamilton a more attractive choice for smaller international carriers such as Pacific Blue, JetStar and Singapore-based Tiger Airways, he said. International expansion into Asia, and possibly even the Americas, was some time off, but was on the long-term radar for the company.
"The platform of a new airport terminal is in place and management's focus will now firmly shift to building the business," Mr Doak said. "The decision for any airline to fly in and out of Hamilton lies squarely with each airline. We've just got to make it as attractive as we can for them."
Mr Doak stressed that a lot of work had to be done before flights to Asia and America were taking off from Hamilton. "Having the capability doesn't mean you do do it today, it means you can do it," he said.
Annual international passenger numbers at Hamilton International Airport plummeted 25 per cent in 2007, mainly because of Air New Zealand-owned Freedom Air's decision to ditch Fiji and Melbourne as destinations last year.
Mr Doak said the airport needed to look beyond Australia as its sole international destination. "The transtasman market is not a panacea to make money."
He said the airport was in negotiations with an international airline about adding more routes, but could not say more because of commercial sensitivity. On a longer-term scale, Mr Doak said the airport had the vision of becoming the North Island's second-largest airport.
"We have the opportunity, some time in the future, to have the vision of being an Auckland (Airport) number two." He said that out of all airports in New Zealand, Hamilton was in the best position to expand because it had the space to move and owned enough surrounding land.
Freedom Air's last flight from Hamilton was scheduled today after almost 13 years of service. Air New Zealand takes over the routes from tomorrow.
www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4455270a6004.html
