Whanganui Airport Explained

Whanganui Airport
Iata:WAG
Icao:NZWU
Pushpin Map:North Island
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in North Island
Pushpin Label:WAG
Pushpin Label Position:right
Location:Whanganui, New Zealand
Elevation-F:27
Elevation-M:8
Website:https://www.whanganuiairport.co.nz/
R1-Number:08/26
R1-Length-F:2877
R1-Length-M:877
R1-Surface:Grass
R2-Number:11C/29C
R2-Length-F:4521
R2-Length-M:1378
R2-Surface:Asphalt
R3-Number:11R/29L
R3-Length-F:2756
R3-Length-M:840
R3-Surface:Grass
R4-Number:11L/29R
R4-Length-F:1654
R4-Length-M:504
R4-Surface:Grass
R5-Number:14/32
R5-Length-F:2959
R5-Length-M:902
R5-Surface:Grass
Footnotes:Source: World Aero Data[1]

Whanganui Airport, 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 four 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]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wanganui – Nzwu . https://archive.today/20130217013519/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=NZ68365 . usurped . 17 February 2013 . World Aero Data . 2018-09-04.
  2. Web site: History – Air New Zealand. https://web.archive.org/web/20171110115250/https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/assets/PDFs/history.pdf. 2017-11-10.
  3. Web site: Sounds Air – The Fast Scenic Way to Cross Cook Strait . 3rd Level New Zealand . 30 December 2018 . January 2018.
  4. News: Air New Zealand drops Whanganui and Blenheim. 3 January 2023 . Australian Aviation.
  5. News: Boost for Whanganui . 7 November 2023 . Radio NZ.
  6. News: Whanganui Airport runway resurfacing to begin. 7 November 2023 . Whanganui Chronicle.
  7. News: Air Chathams back flying between Whanganui and Auckland. 7 November 2023 . Whanganui Chronicle.
  8. News: Air Chathams to use bigger plane for Whanganui to Auckland route. 17 July 2024. New Zealand Herald.
  9. Web site: Air Whanganui . 3 January 2023.
  10. News: Air Whanganui Aviation Engineering Scholarship gives students a flying start. 7 November 2023 . Whanganui Chronicle.