Whanganui Airport

Whanganui Airport
Summary
LocationWhanganui, New Zealand
Elevation AMSL27 ft / 8 m
Coordinates39°57′44″S 175°01′31″E / 39.96222°S 175.02528°E / -39.96222; 175.02528
Websitehttps://www.whanganuiairport.co.nz/
Map
WAG is located in North Island
WAG
WAG
Location of airport in North Island
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11L/29R 4,501 1,372 Asphalt
11R/29L 2,588 789 Grass
08/26 2,198 670 Grass
14/32 2,992 912 Grass
Source: AIP NZ NZWU[1]

Whanganui Airport (IATA: WAG, ICAO: NZWU), named Wanganui Airport until 2016, is the airport that serves Whanganui, New Zealand. It is located to the south of Whanganui River, approximately 4 km from the centre of Whanganui. The airport has a single asphalt runway and three grass runways, and its single terminal has two gates.

History

The airport opened in 1954, and services to the airport began in November that year.[2]

In September 2013, Air New Zealand announced that it would withdraw services from Whanganui to Wellington and Taupo in December 2013. Sounds Air took over the Wellington route until 15 May 2015.[3] Air New Zealand then withdrew service from Auckland to Whanganui on 31 July 2016.[4] The next day, Air Chathams began service between Whanganui and Auckland, replicating Air New Zealand's schedule and, according to then-mayor Annette Main, saving the airport from potential closure.[5]

Work to resurface the asphalt runway began in October 2023. The new surface is expected to last for 15 years.[6]

Operations

Air Chathams now operates daily flights between Whanganui and Auckland. There are three flights in each direction on weekdays and one on weekend days, using ATR 72-500 aircraft.[7][8]

Air Whanganui, which offers business charter and medivac flights, is based at Whanganui Airport and provides services throughout the country.[9] In 2023, Air Whanganui began offering scholarships to Whanganui high-school students who are interested in a career in aviation.[10]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air Chathams Auckland[11][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wanganui Aerodrome Chart" (PDF). AIP NZ. Retrieved 20 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "History – Air New Zealand" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Sounds Air – The Fast Scenic Way to Cross Cook Strait". 3rd Level New Zealand. January 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Air New Zealand drops Whanganui and Blenheim". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Boost for Whanganui". Radio NZ. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Whanganui Airport runway resurfacing to begin". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Air Chathams back flying between Whanganui and Auckland". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Air Chathams to use bigger plane for Whanganui to Auckland route". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Air Whanganui". Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Air Whanganui Aviation Engineering Scholarship gives students a flying start". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  11. ^ Takeflite. "Whanganui Schedule". Air Chathams.
  12. ^ "Air Chathams steps in as Air NZ pulls out of Whanganui". Stuff.co.nz. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
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