Asian tourism on Waikato airport radar

Waikato will be hoping an 800 metre extension to the runway at Hamilton International Airport attracts more Asian tourism as the new airstrip prepares to accommodate larger long haul aircraft.

Airport chief executive Chris Doak said the extension of the runway to 3,000 metres is part of long-term plans for Hamilton to become a low-cost secondary gateway to New Zealand.

“There are clear parallels to the secondary airport models developed in other parts of the world including Gold Coast, Avalon, and Stansted airport in the UK”, Mr Doak said.

“We believe Hamilton will be able to offer an airport that is very attractive to many international carriers in the future with an extended runway.”

Given its huge population and an increasingly mobile middle class wanting lower-cost flights to NZ, Mr Doak said the Asian market offered more visitor potential than Australia, although new routes across the ditch were also on the cards.

As well as building the runway, the project will include new taxiways, an extended apron by the terminal, associated air-noise boundaries and runway lighting.
No time frame has been given for the construction, which is expected to cost between NZ$22 and NZ$25 million.

Source - etravelblackboardasia