Post by vgp on May 16, 2008 7:18:17 GMT 12
Travellers may pay for airport upgrade
Cherie Howie - The Marlborough Express | Thursday, 15 May 2008
Air travellers may foot some of the bill for a proposed expansion of the terminal at Blenheim Airport.
During his state of the province speech on Tuesday, Mayor Alistair Sowman said the airport was pivotal to the continued growth of tourism in Marlborough.
It was also a centre for aircraft servicing and refitting and a hub for the travelling public.
Planned expansion was vital, said Mr Sowman, but he questioned how that would be funded.
"An expansion of the facilities is planned but the question needs to be asked: How are they to be paid for? A small provincial airport has limited opportunities to raise funds to pay for an expansion."
Airport manager Dean Heiford said most of the airport's income was generated from commercial leases and landing fees.
If expansion went ahead they would be forced to look at ways to increase that income.
"We would need to look at increasing landing fees (to airlines) ... ultimately that's likely to be raised from the travelling public."
However, Air New Zealand, which operates 133 return flights out of Blenheim Airport each week, would not be drawn on whether increases would be passed on to passengers, spokesman Mark Street said.
"That's kind of crystal ball gazing at this stage ... the airport has had no discussions with us. Until that happens we can't comment."
Mr Heiford said increasing the number of retailers at the terminal was another funding arm that could be tapped.
There had been no expressions of interest from businesses at this stage, he said.
"We haven't really made it known."
A report outlining design and costing options for the vital expansions has not yet been completed, Mr Heiford said.
He was hopeful it would be done by the end of next month. "That would be great because we've got to look at it for the next financial year."
Expansion was needed with increasing numbers of larger planes servicing the airport.
Air New Zealand increased the number of 50-seat Q300 aircraft servicing its Blenheim-Auckland route this month. Six now make the return trip each week.
Nineteen-seat Beech aircraft also provide return services between the two centres 33 times each week, while 75 return flights are made to Wellington.
Beech aircraft are also used for the 19 return flights to Christchurch each week.
Mr Heiford said the increase in services, particularly from the Q300s, was putting a strain on the airport's infrastructure.
"We're getting more and more comments from airlines and the public that the airport is too small ... especially with the Q300s, you can have 50 people arriving and 50 leaving at the same time."
Changes to security, mooted after Blenheim woman Asha Ali Abdille allegedly hijacked an Eagle Air flight from Blenheim to Christchurch on February 8, could also have an impact on the expansion, Mr Heiford said.
Abdille is accused of taking a knife onto the plane and stabbing three people, including both pilots, while attempting to take control of the plane.
A Government report into aviation safety, which could see the introduction of screening for passengers at regional airports, is expected at the end of the month, he said.
Currently, passengers on planes with fewer than 90 seats do not undergo x-ray screening.
Mr Heiford said the runway at the airport was not part of expansion plans, but would be resealed at the end of next year or early 2010.
The runway is owned by Base Woodbourne but the airport has a licence to use it and is responsible for its maintenance.
www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4549790a6008.html
Cherie Howie - The Marlborough Express | Thursday, 15 May 2008
Air travellers may foot some of the bill for a proposed expansion of the terminal at Blenheim Airport.
During his state of the province speech on Tuesday, Mayor Alistair Sowman said the airport was pivotal to the continued growth of tourism in Marlborough.
It was also a centre for aircraft servicing and refitting and a hub for the travelling public.
Planned expansion was vital, said Mr Sowman, but he questioned how that would be funded.
"An expansion of the facilities is planned but the question needs to be asked: How are they to be paid for? A small provincial airport has limited opportunities to raise funds to pay for an expansion."
Airport manager Dean Heiford said most of the airport's income was generated from commercial leases and landing fees.
If expansion went ahead they would be forced to look at ways to increase that income.
"We would need to look at increasing landing fees (to airlines) ... ultimately that's likely to be raised from the travelling public."
However, Air New Zealand, which operates 133 return flights out of Blenheim Airport each week, would not be drawn on whether increases would be passed on to passengers, spokesman Mark Street said.
"That's kind of crystal ball gazing at this stage ... the airport has had no discussions with us. Until that happens we can't comment."
Mr Heiford said increasing the number of retailers at the terminal was another funding arm that could be tapped.
There had been no expressions of interest from businesses at this stage, he said.
"We haven't really made it known."
A report outlining design and costing options for the vital expansions has not yet been completed, Mr Heiford said.
He was hopeful it would be done by the end of next month. "That would be great because we've got to look at it for the next financial year."
Expansion was needed with increasing numbers of larger planes servicing the airport.
Air New Zealand increased the number of 50-seat Q300 aircraft servicing its Blenheim-Auckland route this month. Six now make the return trip each week.
Nineteen-seat Beech aircraft also provide return services between the two centres 33 times each week, while 75 return flights are made to Wellington.
Beech aircraft are also used for the 19 return flights to Christchurch each week.
Mr Heiford said the increase in services, particularly from the Q300s, was putting a strain on the airport's infrastructure.
"We're getting more and more comments from airlines and the public that the airport is too small ... especially with the Q300s, you can have 50 people arriving and 50 leaving at the same time."
Changes to security, mooted after Blenheim woman Asha Ali Abdille allegedly hijacked an Eagle Air flight from Blenheim to Christchurch on February 8, could also have an impact on the expansion, Mr Heiford said.
Abdille is accused of taking a knife onto the plane and stabbing three people, including both pilots, while attempting to take control of the plane.
A Government report into aviation safety, which could see the introduction of screening for passengers at regional airports, is expected at the end of the month, he said.
Currently, passengers on planes with fewer than 90 seats do not undergo x-ray screening.
Mr Heiford said the runway at the airport was not part of expansion plans, but would be resealed at the end of next year or early 2010.
The runway is owned by Base Woodbourne but the airport has a licence to use it and is responsible for its maintenance.
www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4549790a6008.html
