Anyone who has the best interest of our region at heart would have been buoyed by the amazing financial results the airport company announced recently.
Hawke's Bay Airport profit after tax for the six months to December was up 53 per cent on the same period in 2015. The figurewas 18 per cent, or $152,347, above budget. The airport company is quite confident that the above-budget run will continue into the full year, exceeding the $1.5 million target it forecast.
The reason for the good news is that passenger numbers are up 21 per cent for the six months, above what was expected. And the reason for the rise in passenger numbers is down to a very simple thing - competition. The Air New Zealand monopoly days are over and we have seen a change for the good since Jetstar and Sounds Air started offering flights.
People are obviously taking advantage of the extra (and cheaper) flights to fly to and from the Bay.
You can certainly see it. I travelled to Auckland last week and there were three flights out of Hawke's Bay before 7am on the Monday. You would never have seen that a few years ago, with the first flight leaving at seven. Last week the airport was full of travellers who had risen early to make their flight.
However, I do wish that the expansion plans for the airport would move along a bit more quickly. It seems as if progress on the new terminal is not as fast as originally planned due to the need for automated baggage-handling systems, which take up space.
I have heard some people say they like our system now with passengers collecting bags from a trailer, but I say that progress must happen.
The aim should be (and is) a modern, functioning airport that welcomes visitors to our beautiful region.
