Kaikoura Airport Explained

Kaikoura Airport
Iata:KBZ
Icao:NZKI
Pushpin Map:New Zealand
Pushpin Map Caption:Location on map of New Zealand
Pushpin Label:Kaikoura
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Type:Public
Operator:Kaikōura District Council
Location:Kaikōura, South Island, New Zealand
Elevation-F:19
Elevation-M:6
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:05/23
R1-Length-M:700
R1-Length-F:2,297
R1-Surface:Bitumen
R2-Number:05/23
R2-Length-M:615
R2-Length-F:2,018
R2-Surface:Grass
Footnotes:Source: NZAIP Volume 4 AD[1]

Kaikoura Airport is an uncontrolled aerodrome located 4NM southwest of Kaikōura at Peketā in the South Island of New Zealand.

History

The Airport was opened in 1964. It was constructed by council staff at a cost of 4000 pounds. It had an original grass runway of 575m (1,886feet).In 1983, the Kaikoura Aero Club was formed. In late 1995, the runway was sealed for the increased traffic and to protect it from damage caused by rabbits.[2]

In 1990–91, Air Charter Ltd operated scheduled flights to Christchurch using Cessna 210 aircraft.[3] On 19 July 2004, Sounds Air started twice daily services from Wellington using its Airvan aircraft. But these also ended as of May 2009 as they were not a success.[4]

On 21 November 2016, Sounds Air began a temporary daily Monday to Friday air service from Kaikōura to Blenheim and Christchurch, after the main transport links to the town were severed by the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. The service was planned to run for at least three weeks, using the company's Cessna Caravan.[5] It was extended to the end of December 2017.

Wings Over Whales, a scenic flight operator based at Kaikōura offers whale watching and other charter flights.[6]

Air Kaikoura flew scheduled services to Wellington from 15 May 2020 using a GA-8 Airvan which could take seven passengers.[7] The service was discontinued in February 2021 due to lack of demand.[8]

Operational information

The aerodrome is operated by Kaikōura District Council and is available for general use without the permission of the operator.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NZKI Kaikoura . AIP New Zealand . . 2 September 2004.
  2. Web site: 3rd Level New Zealand: Kaikoura Airfield – A History . 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz . 2014-11-02 . 2015-09-21.
  3. Web site: 3rd Level New Zealand: Air Charter (Christchurch) . 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz . 2014-09-14 . 2015-09-21.
  4. Web site: 3rd Level New Zealand: Sounds Air – The Fast Scenic Way to Cross Cook Strait . 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz . 2014-08-31 . 2015-09-21.
  5. Web site: Sounds Air comes to Kaikoura's Rescue. Steve. Lowe. 17 November 2016. 3rd Level New Zealand. 17 November 2016.
  6. Web site: Why fly with Wings over Whales?.
  7. News: Blenheim on the radar as Air Kaikōura takes to the skies for its first capital connection . 17 November 2020 . stuff.co.nz.
  8. Web site: Air Kaikoura Aero Club . Akaroa Isite . 16 April 2023.