Kerikeri Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kerikeri Airport
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Far North Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Kerikeri | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 492 ft / 150 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°15′46″S 173°54′43″E / 35.26278°S 173.91194°E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www.kerikeri-airport.co.nz | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
 KKE
Location in Northland Region
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| Runway | |||||||||||||||||||
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Source: World Aero Data [1]
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Kerikeri Airport (IATA: KKE, ICAO: NZKK), also known as Bay of Islands Airport, is an airport located in Kerikeri, New Zealand. It's about a three-hour drive from Auckland and a quick 45-minute flight from Auckland Airport. This airport is super important for connecting the beautiful Bay of Islands region to the rest of New Zealand.
Contents
History of Kerikeri Airport
Early Days and World War II
The airport began as a simple grass airstrip in the early 1930s. During World War II, the Defence Department took over the airport. It was used for training pilots for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. After the war ended, local government took charge of the airport again.
Growing Air Services
In 1972, Mount Cook Airlines tried to offer flights from Kerikeri. They wanted to connect tourists to nearby resorts. However, not enough people used the service, so it stopped. Later, a route between Kerikeri and Auckland was started, but it wasn't very popular either.
Things changed in 1992 when Eagle Airways, part of Air New Zealand, started flying to Kerikeri. More people began using the airport, and flights became more common. In 2015, Air Nelson, another Air New Zealand company, took over. They used larger 50-seat Bombardier Dash 8 planes.
New Airlines and Airport Upgrades
In 2008, Salt Air started flights to North Shore Aerodrome in Auckland. They used a Cessna 208 Caravan plane. Salt Air also began offering tours to Cape Reinga. These tours used a Gippsland GA8 Airvan.
The airport's main runway was made longer in 2014–15. The parking area for planes was also made stronger and bigger. This allowed more aircraft to park safely. Air New Zealand helped pay for these important upgrades.
Modern Terminal Building
In October 2016, plans were announced to make the airport terminal bigger. This was because more and more passengers were using the airport. In 2015, a record 87,000 people passed through Kerikeri Airport. This was a huge increase!
By March 2018, the government announced that a brand new terminal was needed. The airport was one of the fastest-growing regional airports in New Zealand. It handled 110,000 passengers in 2017/2018. The old terminal was too small and didn't meet modern needs.
The new $4.75 million terminal opened on June 16, 2019. It has much better areas for arrivals, departures, and baggage handling. Part of the money for the new terminal came from the government's special fund for regional growth.
Light Aircraft Travel
Kerikeri Airport is a useful stop for small planes flying to or from New Zealand. It's a good "stepping stone" for long journeys. For example, Norfolk Island Airport is about 903 kilometers (488 nautical miles) away. Nouméa in New Caledonia is 754 kilometers (407 nautical miles) away. Lord Howe Island is 900 kilometers (486 nautical miles) away.
These distances are often too far for many light aircraft to fly directly. But by stopping at places like Norfolk Island, planes can refuel and continue their journey. From New Caledonia, other Pacific Islands like Vanuatu and Fiji are within reach. These islands can be used as more stepping stones to other places in the South and North Pacific. Kaitaia Airport also offers fuel and is a bit closer to Norfolk Island.
Airlines and What They Offer
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air New Zealand | Auckland |
Besides the regular flights, Kerikeri Airport is also home to other exciting activities. You can find a skydive operator here, offering thrilling jumps! There's also the Bay of Islands Aero Club, where people can learn to fly or enjoy flying small planes. Both of these are located near the south-eastern grass runway.
Images for kids
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An Air New Zealand Dash 8 at Kerikeri Airport in January 2020.
