How they'll shave time off longest flight

It'll be a long time in the air - but Emirates says its new Auckland - Dubai non-stop flight will use new technology and variable routes to make the trip as quick as possible.

By Grant Bradley

Emirates Airline's ultra-long flight from Auckland to Dubai will use smart planning and technology to shave as much time as possible off the 14,000km flight.

While the service will be one of the longest air routes in the world by distance, Emirates will be using flexible routes, which can vary by day, taking advantage of tail winds and avoiding head winds to reduce the time in the air.

The technology, combined with the elimination of an en-route stop in Australia, could shorten the time to Auckland by up to three hours.

It will also result in increased fuel economies - an environmental focus for Emirates.

The airline starts its first non-stop service from Dubai to Auckland on March 1, with the longer duration return leg departing the next day.

The new non-stop service will be operated by a Boeing 777-200LR and should typically take just under 16 hours from Dubai to New Zealand and 17 hours, 15 minutes in the other direction.

"Emirates continues to invest in innovative technologies, and we utilise best practices in optimising our flight planning systems, finding the best routes that take into consideration weather and current conditions to ensure we save time, fuel and emissions, while never compromising on the safety and comfort of our passengers and crew," said Geoff Hounsell, Emirates' vice president flight operations support services and air traffic management.

The non-stop flight will have a complement of 13 cabin crew and four pilots, allowing for rest periods.

Emirates has eyed the non-stop flight to New Zealand for about two years.

Two hours prior to flight departure, the most optimal route is chosen, but can still be updated during the flight. At all times there is a contingency flight plan, so if an unexpected event arises during the flight, there is an alternative routing available.

The non-stop flight will have a complement of 13 cabin crew and four pilots, allowing for rest periods.

New flexible route options have been a focus for the airline and Airservices Australia and Airways New Zealand have been key partners.

An aerial view shows Dubai international airport, home to the national carrier Emirates Airways. Photo / Getty Images

The majority of the Boeing 777-200LR flight will be in Australian-managed airspace, where Emirates has worked with Airservices Australia for the past decade to optimise routes, utilising the technology which will be applied on the direct Auckland route.

"The organised track system - AUSOTS - is well-proven and extending that programme so that it is specific to the Auckland-Dubai route will have significant benefits, without impacting the operations of other aircraft going to Australia," said Geoff Hounsell. Airservices Australia controls 11 per cent of the world's airspace.

"A number of our air traffic control and environmental specialists have worked with Emirates' flight planning team to help find them the most optimal east and west-bound routes which will link the flight into our existing Flex Tracks and user preferred route (UPR) zones." said executive general manager, air traffic control, Greg Hood.

Emirates' Boeing 777-200LR can fly up to a range of 15,555km with full passenger load of 266 - eight in First Class, 42 in Business Class, and 216 in Economy Class.

Airways New Zealand will guide the Boeing 777-200LR through the first and last hours of these ultra-long range flights.

Chief operating officer Pauline Lamb said Airways would offer new fuel-efficient arrival routes into Auckland and a high degree of flexibility using very efficient 'user-preferred routing', including the ability to review and change flight paths during the flight.

Airways manages more than 1.2 million air traffic movements per year within 30 million square kilometres of airspace across New Zealand, the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea.

Emirates' Boeing 777-200LR can fly up to a range of 15,555km with full passenger load of 266 - eight in First Class, 42 in Business Class, and 216 in Economy Class.

Emirates is the world's biggest long haul airline and has a fleet of 249 aircraft, including 74 double-decker Airbus A380s and 155 Boeing 777s, among them 10 Boeing 777-200LRs.

Grant Bradley

Aviation, tourism and energy writer for the Business Herald

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Airport boss confident NZ can sustain tourism growth

Auckland Airport's financial fortunes are closely aligned with that of the overall tourism industry and it spends around $10 million to $15 million annually supporting tourism marketing for the country.

Auckland International Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said New Zealand still has plenty of capacity to grow tourism from its record levels achieved last year.

Visitor arrivals to New Zealand rose 10 percent to a record 3.13 million last year, and tourism has become the country's number one export earner, overtaking dairy which is in the doldrums. The sector has an aspirational goal of hitting $41 billion in total revenue by 2025, up from the $29.8 billion achieved in 2015.

Littlewood said while the goal is "quite a significant step up", it is achievable providing the industry works cohesively on growing the infrastructure to support that sort of rise in both volume and quality of international visitor who will stay longer and spend more. "We need to get it right."

Key opportunities identified in the 2025 tourism strategy are high value Chinese, international students, business events, cruise visits, emerging markets, and promoting Christchurch as a gateway and destination.

Auckland Airport's financial fortunes are closely aligned with that of the overall tourism industry and it spends around $10 million to $15 million annually supporting tourism marketing for the country while also lifting capital expenditure to deal with anticipated growth at the airport, the country's national gateway.

It signed a new memorandum of understanding in November with Tourism New Zealand to maximise the value of New Zealand's overseas visitor market, building on previous partnerships between the two. They'll focus on jointly identifying what's needed to boost visitor numbers from new and emerging markets and how best to invest resources.

Traditionally Auckland has been described as being at the bottom of the world but the world is round and Auckland is actually in the middle of a direct line between Tokyo and Buenos Aires.

Littlewood is critical the industry was too slow to respond to fast growth out of China and initially spent money in the wrong areas. In order to reach its target, New Zealand has to spread more visitors throughout the year rather than just in the peak summer months to ensure higher quality visitors enjoy the experience, he said.

Auckland Airport's own aspiration is to become a southern Asia-Pacific hub and Littlewood said it has taken a further step on that path with a stronger than expected period of expansion in air services. Six new airlines have commenced or announced services to Auckland in the past 12 months.

Achieving that desired hub status relies on a partnership with another international airline carrying a large population through Auckland onto South America or another destination, Littlewood said.

"Traditionally Auckland has been described as being at the bottom of the world but the world is round and Auckland is actually in the middle of a direct line between Tokyo and Buenos Aires."

Ireland, which is also a small country with 4.5 million people, has 8.6 million visitors a year and I don't think the people of Ireland feel those visitors are taking over the country.

A simple comparison against peer group countries suggests New Zealand still has capacity to grow, though it will require ongoing and close coordination between government and industry, he said. New Zealand is ranked number 67 in the world by visitation per capita and 107th by visitation per square kilometre.

"There are plenty of opportunities for this country but we will have to be receptive," Littlewood said. "Ireland, which is also a small country with 4.5 million people, has 8.6 million visitors a year and I don't think the people of Ireland feel those visitors are taking over the country."

Cheap fuel prices, more efficient modern aircraft, and a lower kiwi dollar are making long-haul flights to New Zealand more attractive to those people who have always wanted to visit here but thought it too expensive, he said.

In one example of where change is needed, Littlewood said there is no nationwide group view on hotel development. Providing detailed information on visitor forecasts to hotel developers would give them "a real handle before they put their money at risk," he said.

Improved visitor numbers have already led to commitments for a 20 percent increase or around 2,000 new hotel rooms in Auckland alone while the number of Airbnb properties in Auckland grew 260 percent, or 1,000 rooms, in the past year.

Auckland Airport has a 20 percent stake in the Novotel Hotel at the airport and 100 percent of the Ibis hotel. It's also just chosen a preferred partner, which it's yet to name, for a premium third hotel it will own with construction due to start later this year and will start planning next year for a fourth budget hotel.

Herald Monday, 22 February 2016

Airport’s best ever month

Nelson Airport has recorded its busiest month ever, with a whopping 22 per cent increase on passenger numbers from the same time last year. That saw 78,509 people either fly in or out of the airport during January and follows on from a record December the month before. But it wasn’t the only good news the airport announced this week, 2015 was also a record year, with 778,384 passengers passing through the airport.

It beat 2014 by more than 10,000 passengers.

Three new airlines to the region is the major reason for the huge jump in passenger numbers, but it is putting pressure on the airport’s infrastructure.

Plans for a new airport terminal are progressing well for a 2018 opening, but Nelson Airport manager Rob Evans says they couldn’t wait that long for a car park upgrade due to the terminal’s heavy use.

“The front of the terminal is really quite dangerous at the moment. There’s a lot of mixed traffic going on, with people trying to jostle around. There’s a high volume of people trying to cross the crossing to the short term car parking and it’s actually becoming a real health and safety issue.”

So the current short term parking will become more space for rental cars, where demand has dramatically jumped. The short term parking will move to a section of the current long term parking section.

A dedicated zone for public drop offs – separate to where taxis and shuttles pick up – will be created.

Rob says the other major factor for the change was the “outdated” ticket system.

“It’s constantly breaking down and it’s become untenable for us. It already well past its useful life, it’s a constant source of frustration and complaints by customers.”

He says the new ticketing system is “top of the range” and will be recycled when the new terminal is built.

Plans for that new terminal are progressing well, says Rob, with the expecting opening date still set at September 2018.

The new terminal will be a complete rebuild and see the car parks jump from the current 650 to 1200. Rob says the huge increase in passengers this summer highlights the need for a new terminal.

“Even before this summer the new terminal was certainly on the radar and it is a project that certainly needs to be done. The growth we’ve had this summer has accentuated that need.”

The change in car parking will also see a change in the prices. For those parking for a week or more the rates will drop but one hour parking rates will jump from $1 to $1.50.

Nelson Weekly

Andrew Board

February 24th, 2016 10:47 am

Air New Zealand to 3D print its own aircraft interior parts

Air New Zealand is embracing the future of aircraft interiors by successfully producing 3D printed components for its Business Premier cabins.

The airline has been working with Auckland University of Technology to manufacture the fold down cocktail trays that form part of its award winning Business Premier seat using innovative 3D printing - also known as additive layer manufacturing technology.

Air New Zealand Chief Operations Officer Bruce Parton says the move into 3D printing is one of many innovative moves the airline currently has underway.

"Aircraft interiors are made up of tens of thousands of parts. Not only can't we hold stock of every replacement part we might need, we often only require a small number of units which can be really expensive to produce using traditional manufacturing methods and can involve frustrating delays while a replacement part is delivered," Mr Parton says.

"A big advantage of 3D printing is that it allows us to make cost-effective lightweight parts ourselves, and to do so quickly without compromising on safety, strength or durability."

Air New Zealand hopes to start installing the 3D printed cocktail trays on aircraft in the coming weeks, pending final regulatory approval.

Mr Parton says Air New Zealand is exploring opportunities to introduce further 3D printed components. "It seems the possibilities are limited only by our imagination."

24 February 2016

Issued by Air New Zealand Public Affairs ph +64 21 747 320

Qantas announces up to $500m share buyback on record $921m half-year profit

Qantas will return $500 million to shareholders after lower fuel prices, strong demand for international flights and ongoing cost cutting placed the airline on course to report a record full-year profit.

The carrier on Tuesday recorded its best first-half underlying profit before tax of $921 million, at the upper end of its guidance range, and unveiled a $500 million on-market share buyback program.

The airline also unveiled plans to roll out free high-speed Wi-Fi on Qantas domestic flights, with trials starting by the end of 2016, and said it would build a new lounge at London Heathrow to open in the first quarter of 2017.

The airline's bumper results were assisted by $448 million of savings from the lower fuel price, as well as $261 million in cost savings as part of its three-year, $2 billion transformation plan.

"If it was [only] due to fuel, every airline in the world would be benefiting as much as Qantas," Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said of the results, noting his airline was about three times the size of Virgin Australia but 11 times more profitable in the first half.

"There is something more going on than just fuel. And that is transformation."

Mr Joyce said transformative initiatives during the first half included consolidating call centres, reconfiguring Boeing 737s to add more seats and updating the airline's revenue management system.

New routes

Alongside its results, Qantas also said it would keep two of its Boeing 747-400s slated for retirement in 2016 flying longer than expected because of strong international demand and lower fuel prices.

"The international business has performed the best since the global financial crisis and probably close, if not the best, in its history," Mr Joyce said.

"We are seeing the new routes we've been adding across the board exceeding expectations."

Sondal Bensan, an investment analyst at Qantas shareholder BT Investment Management, said the international capacity growth would be positive because it was in response to demand.

"Judging by the [high] load factors of Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific to this region, there has to be demand spillage," he said, referring to the high percentage of seats filled by those airlines in recent months. "Qantas can fill that void."

The airline will recruit new pilots for the first time since 2009, as a result of new positions that will open when it receives its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft from 2017.

Qantas will boost international capacity 9 per cent in the second half, with domestic capacity poised to increase a more muted 2 per cent, amid the ongoing downturn in the resources sector. A $50 million fall in revenue from the resources sector is forecast in the second half.

The airline said its full-year fuel bill was expected to be no more than $3.4 billion and would be $3.3 billion at current forward Australian dollar prices. That compares with its last update in October, when it said its fuel bill was expected to be $3.61 billion, with a worst case of $3.85 billion.

Merrill Lynch analyst Matthew Spence said he believed consensus expectations for a $1.69 billion underlying profit before tax could be upgraded by 5 to 10 per cent as a result of the lower fuel bill.

Best way to return capital

Chief financial officer Tino La Spina said Qantas expected to complete its $500 million share buyback during the current half and would then take another look at capital management alongside the full-year results in August.

He said the airline had only $200 million of franking credits and just less than $2 billion of tax losses remaining from when it was in financial strife two years ago, so it would be "a while" before it resumed paying taxes.

Mr Joyce said the decision to buy back shares was taken because it was the most effective way of returning capital to shareholders, rather than a sign of the company's view on the future share price.

Qantas shares closed 20¢, or 5 per cent, lower at $3.79 on Tuesday.

"It is hard to say why there would be such a negative reaction, given there will likely be further profit upgrades to consensus and further capital management at the [full-year results]," Mr Bensan said. "The only new information that could be perceived by some as negative is the company calling out some profit headwinds into the second half in the form of revenue pressure from cycling the World Cup Cricket [which boosted demand in 2015] and the continuing drag from weak resources demand."

The airline's shares have risen 29 per cent over the past 12 months, compared with a 15.7 per cent fall in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index over the same period and a 6.3 per cent fall in the share price of rival Virgin Australia, which is a relatively illiquid stock.

Citi analyst Anthony Moulder said the announcement of the $500 million buyback underpinned his view that the stock remained undervalued given the growth profile and high returns.

"We continue to see upside to our $4.90 target price," he said.

February 23, 2016

Business Day

Jamie Freed

Air NZ profit more than doubles to a record $338m in six months

Air New Zealand has seen profit more than double thanks to a rise in the number of passengers, lower jet fuel prices and changes to its fleet.

The airline posted a record net profit of $338 million for the first six months of the year, up 154 per cent. Operating cash flow was up 43 per cent at $541m.

"We are delighted to start off 2016 with such a stellar performance," chairman Tony Carter said.

"Air New Zealand's profitability, healthy free cash flow and solid balance sheet reflect the successful execution of the strategic plan by CEO Christopher Luxon and the executive team, which is focused on sustainable and profitable growth."

READ MORE: * Air New Zealand 'investigating options' for inflight wi-fi * Air New Zealand uses 3D printers to make seat parts  * Air NZ signals big drops in domestic and international airfares

The airline expected to post a full year profit before tax of at least $800m.

Last year, Air NZ's pre-tax earnings were $474m.

Air NZ's result comes days after a bullish Qantas reported a record six-month profit and plans to expand.

Luxon said the airline aimed to provide more routes and competitive prices in New Zealand and the wider region, "combined with modern aircraft offering better operating economics",

Domestic demand was up 10 per cent, and the Tasman and Pacific Island markets continued to perform strongly for the airline, Luxon said.

"New Zealand continues to be not only a destination that is in big demand for Australians but it is also a gateway to North America, South America and the Pacific Islands for travellers from Australia.

"This traffic is adding to the strength of Air New Zealand's services to these markets.

"In recognition of the opportunity, we will continue to build our presence in Australia," he said.

Air NZ's 25.9 per cent stake in Virgin Australia and its share of Christchurch Engine Centre's earnings contributed $15m and $10m respectively for the six months.

The airline will pay shareholders an interim dividend of 10c per share on March 18.

 - Stuff

JOHN ANTHONY

Last updated 09:43, February 25 2016

Praise for airline's first flight to Bay

 

Tauranga's newest airline partner, Kiwi Air, marked its first flight out of the city bound for Nelson yesterday with a plane full of passengers.

Arriving half an hour earlier from Nelson at 11.35am, the 34-seater SAAB340A aircraft taxied down the runway without fanfare.

The first passengers off the plane were Nelson resident Sheree Seyb, and her 19-month old daughter Edan, who were met by her sister Aleisha Turner, and son Cruz, 4, from Whakatane.

Ms Seyb, who was visiting her sister for two weeks, said the journey and service had been "absolutely brilliant" .

"It's Edan's first flight ever and she was so excited. I will definitely be flying with this airline again for sure. Not only was it a cheaper trip but it also cut the usual travel time by quite a bit."

Departing passengers Eddie, 95, and Ethel Smith, 91, from Brookfield said they were off to visit their daughter who lived in Motuoeka and also to spend time with a sick relative.

"At our age taking this direct flight is ideal, otherwise we would have to fly to Auckland, or alternatively to Wellington, and wait around for our connecting flight. It's also a lot cheaper and far more convenient," Mr Smith said.

Also heading to Nelson were Mount Maunganui couple Tenielle and Brendon McHugh, their 12-week-old daughter Lily and 4-year-old son Jackson.

Mr McHugh, who was employed as a project manager at Comvita, said he was "Nelson born and bred" and they were heading back to his hometown to visit family.

Frequent flyers to Nelson, the couple said they snapped up the special flight deal and were taking the chance to also show off the newest member of their family.

Read more: Close vote sees pilot project for village given go-ahead

"We wanted to go down anyway and the timing couldn't have been better for us. We will probably fly back to Nelson more often now. It's great," Mrs McHugh said.

Mr McHugh said the direct flight made it far easier with a young family and also reduced the travel time and costs considerably.

"Previously it cost us the price of two flights. This flight is perfect for us."

Kiwi Regional Airlines chief executive Ewan Wilson, who was at Tauranga Airport to greet departing and arriving passengers, said it was "an incredibly huge day not just for Kiwi Air but also for Tauranga".

People are telling me they're loving it, which is what we hoped for. For us, very clearly, Tauranga deserved more capacity.

Ewan Wilson

Mr Wilson said he was thrilled to have added Tauranga to the airline's network, as it was part of the golden triangle when it came to economic hubs.

Sales of seats on the twice-weekly flights to Nelson and on to Dunedin had been "excellent".

"Tauranga is performing very well for us against all our other routes, which is fantastic," he said.

Mr Wilson said the feedback from passengers could not have been better.

"People are telling me they're loving it, which is what we hoped for. For us, very clearly, Tauranga deserved more capacity.

"Our experience highlights the need for affordable, direct, inter-regional air services in New Zealand, and today vindicates our decision to add the Bay of Plenty as one of our key regions."

Mr Wilson said Kiwi Air could never compete with Air New Zealand flying the Tauranga to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch routes.

"But it's fair to say we are looking at how to add another 400 flying hours a year capacity to our existing network, which may include adding capacity to our Tauranga flights."

Mr Wilson said that could mean a second midweek flight from Tauranga to Nelson.

"Ultimately it's a board decision, but I'd like to see an announcement by May 1."

Tauranga Airport is set to receive a $4.5 million upgrade later this year to make space for the increasing number of passsengers flying in and out of the airport.

Kiwi Regional Air Tauranga flights:

* Flights to Nelson depart at 12.05pm every Tuesday and Saturday, flying on to Dunedin on Tuesday after a 25-minute stopover.

* On Saturdays, Kiwi Air operates a Nelson-Tauranga-Nelson return service also around the middle of the day.

* Airfares: Tauranga-Nelson direct start from $99 one-way

* Tauranga-Dunedin tickets start at $169 one way.

Conditions apply to fares

For more information visit flykiwiair.co.nz

Bay of Plenty Times

Sandra Conchie

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

St George Illawarra Dragons touch down in Nelson ahead of Warriors trial match

The St George Illawarra Dragons have arrived into Nelson early ahead of Saturday's preseason match against the New Zealand Warriors, hoping the five-day "bonding" camp in the top of the south will help build better team cohesion ahead of the NRL.

The extended 26-man squad, featuring stars like Benji Marshall and Josh Dugan, and some who won't even take to Trafalgar Park on Saturday, arrived at Nelson Airport to little fanfare on Monday afternoon.

While Saturday's match is just a trial and one final hit-out before the season proper, Dragons coach Paul McGregor said the team will benefit from the five-day camp that is highlighted by a match-up against a Warriors side he believes will make the top four.

"This will be a our last week away for the players to really enjoy each other's company and bond together before we go into round one," McGregor said.

READ MORE * McGregor: Warriors have bought well * Luke fires Warriors over Titans * Star halves to collide in Nelson

"A week is a long time away from your family so this will provide that opportunity for the players to become closer and start to learn about each other's habits that little bit more.

"I believe the players will come away from this with a very tight-knit bond."

Dragons winger Jason Nightingale, who spoke highly of the Warriors' offseason recruitment, said the team was looking forward to bringing the NRL buzz to a region that has never experienced first grade rugby league before.

"It's always great to come to these new places. Part of preseason and our game is to be able to share it in new areas and I know there's a few of the Kiwi boys who have been to Nelson before and there's a lot that haven't so we're looking forward to the experience," he said.

7000 tickets have been sold already for Saturday's game, which kicks off at 5pm.

The Warriors are expected to arrive in Nelson later in the week and have a range of school visits planned.

 - Stuff

PHILLIP ROLLO

Last updated 20:04, February 15 2016

Nelson Airport car park set for $400,000 revamp

Nelson Airport's parking system is getting a spruce up after its "terrible" dated technology frustrated many customers.

The airport will invest $400,000 in its car parking facilities by improving its payment system and moving all short term and drop off parking to the the current main car park.

"We've got a lot of people who get frustrated with the machines," Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans said.

Ticketless parking will be available by allowing people to insert their credit cards into a machine as they enter the car park and then use the same credit card as they exit the car park.

New machines will include technology for cash, eftpos, credit card and paywave payments.

Nelson man Murray King said the current machines were "terrible" and time-consuming.

"After travelling all day you finally get here and then have to spend time in a queue," he said. He expected the new machines to make a big difference.

The new facilities will result in a price increase in short term parking to $1.50 per hour. The carpark's daily maximum is $10.

Evans said the increase was to compensate for $250,000 worth of new equipment for the new technology.

The long term car park's daily maximum would remain at $8 per day and the weekly maximum for long term car parking will reduce from $56 per week to $50.

Other changes to the road in front of the terminal would also "alleviate congestion" and improve safety as work on the new terminal commences, Evans said.

The road will have an island in the middle with a stopping lane either side - one for taxis and one for public drop-off's.

"That takes away all these people hanging around in front of the terminal," he said.

Nelson City Taxis driver Julia Young said it was currently very difficult to pick people up in front of the terminal when the airport was busy.

"Sometimes you can't even park - it's just really hard at the moment," she said. She hoped the changes would make it easier for taxis to pick up customers.

The current pay and display carparking located in the middle of the terminal car park will be converted to rental carparking.

The carparking improvements would be for the interim and the new terminal design, set to be complete in 2018, would include more car parking space.

The airport has had a big year with three new airlines and an all time high of 80,200 passengers through its doors in December 2015 alone.

"As demand continues to increase, there's a need to improve customer safety and provide modern technology to enhance the customer experience," Evans said.

Economic Development Agency chief executive Bill Findlater said he was encouraged by the airport's decision to upgrade the parking facilities now instead of waiting two years for the completion of the new terminal.

"It's important that our airport infrastructure can service the increased number of visitors, so it is great news that Nelson Airport is responding quickly to improve its car park," he said.

Work on the car park will begin Monday February 15 and is expected to be completed in the first week of March.

- Stuff

Press play to view the Nelson Mail video below.

[embed]https://assets.stuff.co.nz/video/production/1455162582017-airport%20carpark.mp4[/embed]

Media Release: Nelson Airport invests $400k in immediate car park upgrades

As a result of increased airline and passenger growth, Nelson Airport is investing $400,000 in its car park facilities to significantly improve the customer experience and safety, says CEO Rob Evans. Works start on Monday 15^th February and are due for completion during the first week of March. Over the last year, Nelson Airport has welcomed three new airlines in addition to the existing three operating out of Nelson. It now manages on average 400 flights per week. Passenger numbers in and out of Nelson have hit record highs, with December 2015 figures at an all-time high of 80,200 passengers. Each year, 1.3 million people now use the airport for travel, to meet and greet passengers, and for business.

Plans are underway for a new terminal to open in 2018, but CEO Rob Evans says the airport is investing now in interim improvements to car parking due to the congestion around the terminal entry, and users’ frustration with the aged car park equipment.

“As demand continues to increase, there’s a need to improve customer safety and provide modern technology to enhance the customer experience,” Evans says. “We are installing the latest car park equipment and improving the traffic flow now as we simply cannot wait until we have a new terminal and car park in 2018.

Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency Chief Executive Bill Findlater says the airport is developing in line with the regional economy.

“This summer’s fantastic tourist season follows positive economic growth figures recorded in the latest Tracking the Economy report,” says Mr Findlater. “It’s important that our airport infrastructure can service the increased number of visitors, so it is great news that the Nelson Airport is responding quickly to improve its car park rather than another two years.”

Rob Evans says the $400,000 investment will bring Nelson Airport’s car park infrastructure in line with those seen at airports around New Zealand. For example, taxis and shuttles will have a dedicated lane and staging area at the terminal entrance and passengers will have their own drop-off zone.

“The car park ticketing system will be modernised with additional new features such as payWave,” he says. “Credit cards can also be used at the entrance and exit barriers, so people with cards won’t have to use the terminal pay machine, which will reduce the queues.”

Evans adds that the maximum daily rate in the Long Term Car Park remains at $8 and the weekly rate in the Long Term car park has reduced to $50 a week from $56 a week. Short term car parking charges will increase slightly for the first time in 10 years to $1.50 an hour.

Visitors to Nelson Airport are advised to come early and use extra caution when entering the airport during the upgrades, though works will take place mostly in the evenings to minimise disruption.

Improvements at-a-glance:

Where to park

• For airport visitor safety, public drop-off traffic will have a dedicated lane and traffic island.
• All short term public car parking and pick up will be in the new Short Term Car Park, currently known as the Main Car Park.
• A dedicated P120 area will be close to the terminal in the Short Term Car Park.
• The current pay-and-display short term public car park will become rental car parking.
• Taxis and shuttles will have their own dedicated drop off and pick up (‘staging’) lane.

How to pay

• New technology for cash, eftpos, credit card or payWave payments will replace the current machine.
• For ticketless parking, people with a credit card can insert their card as they enter the car park and then use the same credit card as they exit the car park.
• Receipts can be issued for all transactions.

Prices from early March

1. The first 15 minutes is free.
2. Short term parking increases to $1.50 / hour.
3. The Short Term Car Park’s daily maximum is $10.
4. The Long Term Car Park’s daily maximum is $8 (unchanged).
5. The weekly maximum in the Long Term car park reduces to $50 from $56 per week.

Further Information:

• Six airlines serve the Nelson region: Air New Zealand, OriginAir, Kiwi Regional Airlines, Jetstar, Sounds Air, air2there.
• The new airport car park design was completed by Traffic Design Group (TDG).
• The airport works are being completed by Downer.
• The new car parking technology is by Skidata (skidata.com.

Click here for all details about our 2016 car park development project.

Air New Zealand flight diverted to Nelson Airport

An Air New Zealand flight has made an emergency landing after being diverted to Nelson Airport. Emergency services were sent to the incident after 3pm.

Nelson police said they were notified but the plane, en route from Christchurch to Hamilton with 58 people on board, had landed safely.

The Air New Zealand ATR72-600 sits on the Nelson Airport tarmac following an emergency landing on Tuesday. Police said the plane was diverted because of a problem in the cockpit. There were no further details about the nature of the problem.

Nelson Fire Station officer Paul Marshall said the plane made an emergency landing in Nelson after the pilot noticed a bit of smoke in the cockpit.

"They have landed as a bit of a precaution," he said. "Everybody is off [the plane] and happy."

The Nelson Fire Service responded to the incident at 3pm and were stood down once the plane landed safely and it was now being dealt with by airport staff, he said.

"We are just on local standby, it wasn't a full emergency," he said.

Graham Bell was on the flight with wife Margaret when they smelt what seemed to be smoke coming through the overhead air vents.

"We were just flying along nicely and all of a sudden there was just a smell of burning coming through the air vents. The pilot said we're going to have turn around and go to Nelson instead of Hamilton," Graham said. "You could smell it. It was quite strong," Margaret said.

Graham said there was a "wee bit of turbulence" on the way down, but the landing was smooth.

"We're just finding out if they're going to fix that one or give us a new plane, so how long we're going to be here, I don't know."

Trevor Johns, who was flying home to Hamilton, said the burning smell was "putrid" like "burning fur".

"Just started getting a bit distressed wondering what's that smell, what's going on, what's happening? The captain just pulled pin, eh," he said.

"The mood was heavy, mate. People were worried."

He said the pilot said the plane had electrical issues and they needed to initiate an emergency landing.

Passenger Pete Caldwell said the mood on the plane was "pretty relaxed".

"They seemed to have everything under control pretty well."

However, he was surprised that no one from Air New Zealand had met the passengers at the airport to explain what had happened and what their options were.

Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans said the aircraft was diverted and that it was a normal procedure and not unusual.

Police cordons were in place around the airport as a pre-caution, but were lifted by 3.30pm.

- Stuff

Air fare bonanza to stay - Jetstar

Jetstar's Australasian head says the air fare bonanza for New Zealanders is sustainable and will continue. Speaking after the launch of an expansion to its regional network, David Hall, Jetstar chief executive of Australia and New Zealand, said his airline's operating model and competition would keep fares low.

He said tens of thousands of passengers had paid less than $50 for regional flights since they went on sale last August and on jet routes about 70 per cent of 1.7 million passengers carried a year paid less than $100.

While regional network wouldn't be profitable for Jetstar "overnight," he said the airline backed the operation for the long-term.

Last week Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon questioned whether Jetstar's pricing was sustainable.

Hall said his airline wanted to grow the pie rather than cannibalise the competition.

Jetstar had been flying across the Tasman for a decade and main trunk routes with jets for more than six years and those operations were profitable last year.

"We've got a very efficient operating model," he said.

"We're not going to be profitable overnight (in the regions) but we're a very rational competitor and this will be sustainable."

At full list prices the value of the five 50-seat Bombardier Q300s regional planes nine A320s was close to $500 million, representing a substantial investment for Qantas-owned Jetstar, said Hall.

The airline has been flying between Auckland, Napier and Nelson last December and today added flights from Auckland to New Plymouth and Palmerston North, and Nelson to Wellington.

This year Jetstar would have more than 600,000 on its regional network. Hall said on time performance of regional services was improving.

"It's performing in line with expectations. When you've only got a small fleet small movements can have a big percentage impact."

- NZ Herald

3:44 PM Monday Feb 1, 2016

Grant Bradley

Kiwi Regional Airlines announces alliance with Barrier Air

Kiwi Regional Airlines and Auckland-based carrier Barrier Air have announced a new alliance.

From February 8, Barrier Air will offer Auckland-Hamilton flights as Air New Zealand moves to drop the route.

Kiwi Regional Airlines chief executive Ewan Wilson said Air New Zealand's decision to pull out of some regional routes had triggered a series of carriers to start up but they tended to be operating in silos.

"Our agency alliance with Barrier Air is exciting and is one of many relationships I'm keen to develop," Wilson said.

"This is our first attempt at creating more co-ordination and working with another carrier to provide more connectivity."

From February 15, Kiwi Air passengers flying routes between Nelson, Dunedin and Hamilton will be able to connect in Hamilton with Barrier Air flights to Auckland and on to Great Barrier Island, North Shore or Kaitaia around midday on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

"Essentially, we've agreed to sell each other's seats. So you can book a seat on Barrier Air with us at a concessionary rate. It will be two separate tickets but the schedules have been co-ordinated," he said.

"For us, this alliance allows us to sell destinations like North Shore, Great Barrier Island and destinations as far north as Kaitaia."

In November, Northland Regional Council and Far North District Council called for Northland people to support Barrier Air or risk losing the service.

Meanwhile, Kiwi Air will begin flying to and from Tauranga from February 15.

The airline will offer a twice-weekly direct connection for Bay of Plenty residents to Nelson, with the service also connecting on to Dunedin one day a week.

Since its first flight in October, Wilson said the company was "thrilled" with its load factor (passenger numbers), with an  average of 70 per cent of seats sold.

The airline was still working to improve its yield and saw great potential in catering to corporate travellers.

 - Stuff

AARON LEAMAN

Last updated 18:09, February 1 2016

It’s official: tourism is booming

New tourism figures have backed up what people are noticing on the streets of Nelson – it’s been a big year for industry.

New figures from Nelson Tasman Tourism show a dramatic 7.7 per cent increase in the number of people staying the night compared to the previous year-end November statistics – exceeding the national average of 4.8 per cent.

Last month, Nelson Weekly was first to report the dramatic increase of visitors to the region, with Nelson Airport recording a 23 per cent increase in the number of passengers flying in and out of the region, which has been largely fuelled by three new airlines operating to the region.

Lynda Keene, chief executive of Nelson Tasman Tourism, says it’s a “great result” for the region, which has built on the steady growth that they have seen since July last year.

International guests staying the night were also up 6.7 per cent – just pipping the national growth result of 6.6 per cent. Domestic guest nights increased 8.2 per cent, compared to the national result of 3.7 per cent growth.

The region’s average length of stay also increased 6.33 per cent, which was the highest increase nationally.

Lynda says, “without a doubt,” the launch of Kiwi Regional Airlines, Jetstar and Originair have contributed to visitor growth.

“The region has received significant additional exposure by airlines promoting Nelson as a new destination and we’ll continue to work with them to ensure the early growth trends with increased passengers will continue over the next twelve months,” she says.

Lynda says the strong performance can also be attributed to strong marketing campaigns to promote the region’s many festivals and expos.

Lynda says the summer season has now “kicked in to high gear” with lots of Kiwis and international visitors soaking up the sun and enjoying the great outdoors and retail, food and wine. Nelson i-SITE visitor numbers are also up by 15 per cent.

“The majority of our international marketing is done to promote the high season in long-haul offshore markets, with increasing activities undertaken in Australia, China and India to encourage shoulder and winter month visitation,” she says.

“We anticipate continued growth from international and domestic travellers over the next two years and it’s heartening to see the tourism industry being such a positive economic contributor to the regional economy.”

Nelson Weekly/Nelson Live

Kate Russell

February 3rd, 2016 10:17 am

Jetstar begins Wellington flights

Jetstar flights from Nelson to Auckland have been a huge success and the low-cost airline is hoping for more of the same from its Nelson to Wellington service that flew for the first time today.

Overall passenger numbers through Nelson Airport rose 18 per cent in December compared with the same month the previous year, with traffic on the Nelson-Auckland route jumping 33 per cent.

David Hall, Jetstar CEO Australia and New Zealand, says passenger loads on the new regional services were above 90 per cent in December and January.

“This year we’ll have over 600,000 seats on sale across our New Zealand regional network providing more opportunities for more Kiwis to fly more often for less.

“Since we started selling our regional flights in August last year tens of thousands of New Zealand travellers have booked tickets for under $50, backing up our commitment to bring low fares choice to the market.

Mr Hall said the increased passenger numbers at Nelson Airport was a great example of how Jetstar’s low fares stimulate markets.

“Many passengers on our new regional services have never flown before or haven’t travelled by air for many years. That’s the kind of growth a low fares airline brings to new routes – new customers and more frequent fliers.”

The inaugural Nelson-Wellington service departed at 10.05am, arriving in Wellington at 10.40am. Return services are offered three times a day on the Nelson-Wellington route.

Nelson Airport CEO Rob Evans says it’s “fantastic” for Nelsonians that Jetstar is extending its service with the Nelson – Wellington route. “Wellington is one of the key routes for Nelsonians doing business. There are many business commuters who fly there every week already, and we anticipate people will look for additional business opportunities in the capital now that there is more capacity available on this route. Wellington is also the closest city destination to fly to from Nelson, so having more flights is great for everyone wanting a trip away to ‘the coolest little capital in the world.’”

 

Nelson Live

February 1st, 2016 1:40 pm

New airlines break Nelson visitor records

"Extraordinary" growth in air travel over the past year has seen record breaking numbers through Nelson Airport and 400 flights in and out of the terminal each week.

The number of airlines in Nelson have doubled in the past year with six now flying to seven different destinations across New Zealand. There was an additional 30,000 passengers in 2015 compared to five years ago. The new airlines include Jetstar, Originair and Kiwi Regional.

Passenger numbers rose 18 per cent in December 2015 compared to December 2014 with 80,210 people passing through the terminal, said Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans.

Passenger numbers rose 18 per cent in December 2015 compared to December 2014 with 80,210 people passing through the terminal, said Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans.

"December was a record breaking month for the airport ... people visiting the airport would have noticed this increase in flights as the terminal and carpark have been extremely busy over the last few months," he said.

The airport has employed a new terminal supervisor Simon Trillo in a bid to keep up with the growth, Evans said.

Jetstar's service between Auckland and Nelson, introduced in December, was met with enthusiasm from the public. Its first two direct flights from Nelson to Wellington are set to take off on Monday and are also looking promising, said spokesperson Phil Boeyen.

He said Nelson was the airline's busiest regional port with seven flights to Auckland and Wellington each day.

"The bookings are looking good, Auckland has had really high loads," he said.

In a Rotary speech on Wednesday, Nelson MP Nick Smith said the increase in passenger numbers was good, but the airport facilities were inadequate to keep up with demand.

He said annual passenger numbers through the airport had grown from 150,000 per year in 1990 to more than 750,000 in 2015. The number was likely to hit 1 million by 2020.

"People's first experience in Nelson currently is an over-crowded airport. This risks eroding our brand as a lifestyle centre where people can relax away from the hassles and crowds of big cities," he said.

He would make working with the Airport Company and the Nelson and Tasman District Councils a key priority for 2016, he said.

Kiwi Regional Airlines (KRA) chief executive Ewan Wilson said Nelson had been a key destination for the company, which also flies to Hamilton and Dunedin.

He said Nelson was at the centre of their upcoming expansion plans.

"We start our Tauranga to Nelson service next month and immediately the Nelson flights started to sell like hot cakes," he said.

He indicated the company was about to make further announcements that would involve Nelson.

"There might be a further step this year to add additional flying [to KRA] yet again - that will revolve around Nelson," he said.

"In the next couple of weeks we will start an overnight airplane service in Nelson on a Saturday night - we'll have the ability to operate a lot of charters out of Nelson and other exciting operations ahead."

The increase in passenger numbers have been reflected in visitor counts in the region, benefiting businesses.

Mapua's Cool Store Gallery owner Tricia Morrison said she had noticed a "huge" influx of customers, particularly North Islanders, since the launch of the new airlines.

"It's just made Nelson so accessible now ... you can just come down for a weekend as a family or in a group, I've noticed there's been lots of people like that in the gallery and I've been there 16 years," she said.

She noted that air fares had dropped considerably since the new airlines had arrived which had a "huge influence on people".

BY THE NUMBERS

Passengers through Nelson airport

2015: 764,050 +3 per cent

2014: 744,416 -3 per cent

2013: 765,266  +2 per cent

2012: 748,888 +2 per cent

2011: 734,835

 - Stuff

JESS PULLAR

Last updated 16:11, January 29 2016

Airlines expand flights out of Nelson

As one regional airline expands out of Nelson to Wellington another has announced a partnership which will allow it to fly to Auckland.

Jetstar had its first flight to Wellington yesterday, expanding the network of flights out of Nelson.

Chief executive of Nelson Airport Rob Evans said it was "fantastic for Nelsonians" that Jetstar was extending its service.

"Wellington is one of the key routes for Nelsonians doing business. There are many business commuters who fly there every week already, and we anticipate people will look for additional business opportunities in the capital now that there is more capacity available on this route."

Wellington was also the closest city destination to fly to from Nelson, he said, so having more flights was "great for everyone wanting a trip away to 'the coolest little capital in the world'."

Evans said Wellington Airport and its tourism body should also be congratulated for its strategies to increase tourism which had huge "flow on" potential for us.

"For example, Singapore Airlines' new service between Wellington and Canberra, which will cut flight times to Asia significantly, promises to be a boon for Nelson's tourism sector, especially now that there are more flights between Wellington and Nelson to link with international destinations."

Kiwi Regional Air also announced yesterday that it would partner with Barrier Air, which flies routes to Auckland, Kaitaia, North Shore and Great Barrier Island.

KRA passengers, flying routes between Nelson, Dunedin and Hamilton will be able to connect in Hamilton with Barrier Air flights to Auckland, and on to Great Barrier Island, North Shore or Kaitaia about midday on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting February 15.

Passengers booking on Kiwi flights to Hamilton will be able to "add on" a connecting Barrier Air flight to one of these destinations at a concessionary rate and Barrier Air passengers will be able to land in Hamilton, and transfer to a connecting KRA flight to Nelson and Dunedin.

In a joint statement from the airlines, KRA chief executive Ewan Wilson and Barrier chief executive Mike Foster said they were "very pleased to be able to help ordinary Kiwis living in regional areas to fly from north to south, and vice versa, on fully regional services."

Foster said the NZ Civil Aviation Authority was in the process of certifying his airline's new route between Auckland and Hamilton, following a proving flight last week.

"We want Hamilton passengers to be able to continue flying to Auckland when Air New Zealand stops that service on 7th February, and we want to give all regional passengers more choice and better access to our services in the north."

Each airline's reservations staff will be able to act as agents for the other airline's flights, with tickets for the new connections due to go on sale next week.

Both company heads explained that this agreement was not a codeshare service, but an agreement to sell each other seats with each issuing separate tickets for a coordinated schedule.

 - Stuff

Last updated 12:56, February 2 2016

Air New Zealand plans first night flights into Queenstown

Air New Zealand will begin night flights to Queenstown in July, pending regulatory approval. Photo: Chris McLennan

Air New Zealand is poised to begin its first-ever night flights in and out of Queenstown Airport in July, in time for the ski season at the popular South Island destination.

The night flights, at present are only planned between Auckland and Queenstown with A320 aircraft, remain subject to regulatory approval. Air NZ has decided against trans-Tasman night flights for the time being given the Queenstown flights connect to international flights from its main hub in Auckland.

We believe our proposed Queenstown schedule will be a game-changer for international travellers in particular.

Cam Wallace

Overall, the night flights will help grow Air NZ's capacity between Auckland and Queenstown by 15 per cent in the financial year beginning July 1.

Queenstown Airport is spending $NZ17 million ($15.7 million) to widen its runway and install new lighting to allow for the new flights after New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority in 2014 approved the safety case for the flights provided the airport infrastructure was properly upgraded.

Individual airlines also need to meet set criteria relating to fleet and operating procedures. Air NZ chief flight operations and safety officer Captain David Morgan said his airline had been working with pilots, safety teams and its unions to finalise a thorough safety case that would be submitted to the regulator in the near future.

Air NZ chief sales and commercial officer Cam Wallace said the night schedule, which includes a last departure for Auckland at 7:30pm in winter, would provide better choice and flexibility for travellers.

"We believe our proposed Queenstown schedule will be a game-changer for international travellers in particular with same day connections as well as reduced connection times both to and from a range of destinations across Australia, Asia and North America," he said.

The new flights will go on sale by early next week.

Jetstar, the only other carrier between Auckland and Queenstown, has yet to say whether it will launch night flights domestically or across the Tasman. Qantas and

January 27, 2016

Jamie Freed

Senior Reporter

New airlines break Nelson visitor records

Passenger numbers have increased at Nelson Airport with the arrival of new airlines. "Extraordinary" growth in air travel over the past year has seen record breaking numbers through Nelson Airport and an additional 400 flights in and out of the terminal each week.

The number of airlines in Nelson have doubled in the past year with six now flying to seven different destinations across New Zealand. There was an additional 30,000 passengers in 2015 compared to five years ago. The new airlines include Jetstar, Originair and Kiwi Regional.

Passenger numbers rose 18 per cent in December 2015 compared to December 2014 with 80,210 people passing through the terminal, said Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans.

"December was a record breaking month for the airport ... people visiting the airport would have noticed this increase in flights as the terminal and carpark have been extremely busy over the last few months," he said.

The airport has employed a new terminal supervisor Simon Trillo in a bid to keep up with the growth, Evans said.

Jetstar's service between Auckland and Nelson, introduced in December, was met with enthusiasm from the public. Its first two direct flights from Nelson to Wellington are set to take off on Monday and are also looking promising, said spokesperson Phil Boeyen.

He said Nelson was the airline's busiest regional port with seven flights to Auckland and Wellington each day.

"The bookings are looking good, Auckland has had really high loads," he said.

In a Rotary speech on Wednesday, Nelson MP Nick Smith said the increase in passenger numbers was good, but the airport facilities were inadequate to keep up with demand.

He said annual passenger numbers through the airport had grown from 150,000 per year in 1990 to more than 750,000 in 2015. The number was likely to hit 1 million by 2020.

"People's first experience in Nelson currently is an over-crowded airport. This risks eroding our brand as a lifestyle centre where people can relax away from the hassles and crowds of big cities," he said.

He would make working with the Airport Company and the Nelson and Tasman District Councils a key priority for 2016, he said.

Kiwi Regional Airlines (KRA) chief executive Ewan Wilson said Nelson had been a key destination for the company, which also flies to Hamilton and Dunedin.

He said Nelson was at the centre of their upcoming expansion plans.

"We start our Tauranga to Nelson service next month and immediately the Nelson flights started to sell like hot cakes," he said.

He indicated the company was about to make further announcements that would involve Nelson.

"There might be a further step this year to add additional flying [to KRA] yet again - that will revolve around Nelson," he said.

"In the next couple of weeks we will start an overnight airplane service in Nelson on a Saturday night - we'll have the ability to operate a lot of charters out of Nelson and other exciting operations ahead."

The increase in passenger numbers have been reflected in visitor counts in the region, benefiting businesses.

Mapua's Cool Store Gallery owner Tricia Morrison said she had noticed a "huge" influx of customers, particularly North Islanders, since the launch of the new airlines.

"It's just made Nelson so accessible now ... you can just come down for a weekend as a family or in a group, I've noticed there's been lots of people like that in the gallery and I've been there 16 years," she said.

She noted that air fares had dropped considerably since the new airlines had arrived which had a "huge influence on people".

BY THE NUMBERS

Passengers through Nelson airport

2015: 764,050 +3 per cent

2014: 744,416 -3 per cent

2013: 765,266  +2 per cent

2012: 748,888 +2 per cent

2011: 734,835

 - Stuff

Woman busted with methamphetamine at Nelson Airport

A woman carrying more than an ounce of methamphetamine on a flight from Auckland to Nelson was arrested by police at the airport. The 36-year-old woman, who was travelling alone, was arrested at the airport on Sunday, police said.

The amount seized would have an estimated street value of $28,000.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Johnston said the arrest came as the result of police investigations into the supply of the drug in the region.

The woman is to appear in the Nelson District Court today charged with possessing methamphetamine for supply and offering to sell methamphetamine.

Stuff

Last updated 13:40, January 25 2016