Terminal facelift starts to take off

Onerahi airport manager Mike Chubb oversees the start of an upgrade which will almost double the size of the terminal. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Whangarei Airport will soon be a "real airport" replete with self check-in and a terminal twice its current size.

The million-dollar facelift, entering its second stage this week, would see the airport equipped to serve the city for another 10 to 15 years, while Whangarei District Council searched for a site for a new airport.

"We're trying to get it like a 'real airport', like what they have in the big cities," airport manager Mike Chubb said.

The upgrade was fuelled by the larger 50-seat Q300 aircraft now exclusively landing at Whangarei Airport.

It was funded by $210,000 from Whangarei District Council, $210,000 from the Crown and $600,000 from the council's Airport Reserve Fund.

In three months' time there would be room for up to 100 seats, instead of the current 50, self check-in kiosks, an improved baggage claim area and potential for a laptop charging station and children's play area.

The expansion of the terminal, to about double its current size, followed the completion of a new apron and taxiway, new toilets and the addition of about 20 carparks.

"We used to get a lot of overflow and cars parking on the grass," Mr Chubb said.

A new fence around the carpark had not deterred thieves who targeted parked vehicles, and there were plans to install more lighting and CCTV after the upgrade was complete.

District councillor Brian McLachlan said the terminal would remain open and travellers would experience minimal disruption during the works.

"The initial stages will be mostly external. There will be some hoardings inside and along the aircraft access tunnel for safety reasons. This will reduce floor area and some seats will have to be removed," he said.

Cr McLachlan said the final result would be an "open, light and airy" space which would welcome people to Whangarei.

WDC is investigating potential sites for, and the plausibility of, a completely new airport.

The airport runway is too short for many planes in the Air New Zealand fleet.