Christchurch International Airport

Christchurch International Airport
Characteristics
ICAO code	NZCH
IATA code	CHC
Coordinates	43 ° 29 '22 "  S , 172 ° 31' 56"  E Coordinates: 43 ° 29 '22 "  S , 172 ° 31' 56"  E
Height above MSL	37 m (121  ft )
Transport links
Distance from the city center	9 km northwest of Christchurch
Basic data
opening	1940
operator	Christchurch International Airport Ltd.
Passengers	6,439,703 (2016)
Air freight	13,330 t (2016)
Flight movements	94,955 (2016)
Runways
01/19	515 m × 143 m grass
02/20	3287 m × 45 m asphalt
11/29	1741 m × 45 m asphalt

The Christchurch Airport (engl. Christchurch International Airport , IATA code: CHC; ICAO NZCH) is the largest of three airports of New Zealand city of Christchurch . It serves as the hub for Air New Zealand .

The airport is located about nine kilometers northwest of the city center in the suburb of Harewood. Due to increasing passenger numbers, the airport was expanded for $ 200 million by 2009.

A base of the company Garden City Helicopters, which has ambulance aircraft and a rescue helicopter stationed there, is directly attached to the airport . The company Christchurch Helicopters, which has its base in the west of the airport, carries out other flight operations with helicopters . Next to it is the Canterbury Aero Club, which includes the 01/19 grass runway.

The runway 02/20 is oriented almost at right angles to the prevailing main wind direction. Therefore, there is also the smaller track 11/29 at right angles to the big track. The small runway is regularly used by aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767 .

history

The Christchurch City Council decided in 1935 to build the airfield in Harewood. In 1936, 227  hectares of land were purchased and in 1937 a 915 meter runway and a small terminal building were built. In 1940 the airfield was opened for commercial flight operations under the name "Harewood Airport" and was also used for training by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War .

In 1948 another 260 hectares of land were purchased and from 1950 Christchurch was New Zealand's first international airport. In 1953 the "Great London to Christchurch Air Race" was organized, in which the distance from London to Christchurch was covered in less than 24 hours for the first time. From 1955, the US Air Force began flying operations to explore the Antarctic .

In 1960 a new terminal (6000 m²) was opened and in 1962 the runway was extended to 2442 meters to allow larger commercial aircraft to use the airport. In 1966 the terminal received a special extension for handling international flights.

In 1975 the terminal for domestic flights was enlarged again and 16,000 m² were now available. In 1980 the arrival hall of the international terminal was enlarged by 2800 m². In 1984 the runway was extended to 3,287 m and in 1987 the terminal was enlarged again.

In 1988 the operating company "Christchurch International Airport Ltd." was founded, 75% owned by the Christchurch City Council and 25% owned by the New Zealand state. In the same year, the check-in and departure area for international flights was expanded by 2,320 m². Just a year later, the arrival area was expanded and additional passenger boarding bridges were added.

In 1990, an international Antarctic center was opened and in 1997 the parking garage was rebuilt to create 340 additional parking spaces. In 1998 a new international terminal was opened.

Military flight operations

After the closure of the Wigram air force base, the RNZAF uses the international airport for passenger and cargo traffic to and from Christchurch. Also warplanes used it in the past.

With the boom in Antarctica exploration in the 1950s, Christchurch became an important base for the RNZAF and USAF's Antarctic flights. During the season for Antarctic flights (August – February), C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules can often be found on the special apron north of the passenger terminal. From time to time, C-5 Galaxy flights to McMurdo Station are also operated . Before their decommissioning in 2005, C-141 Starlifters were also frequently encountered.

Web links

Commons : Christchurch International Airport  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Facts & Figures. ChristchurchAirport.co.nz, accessed April 30, 2017 .