New Plymouth Airport Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

New Plymouth Airport

IATA: NPL
ICAO: NZNP

Summary

Airport type

Public

Owner

New Plymouth District Council

Operator

New Plymouth District Council

Location

New Plymouth

Elevation AMSL

30 m / 97 ft

Coordinates

39°00′31″S 174°10′45″E / 39.00861°S 174.17917°E

Map

NPL

Location in Taranaki Region

Runway

Runway	Length		Surface
Runway	m	ft	Surface
05R/23L	1,000	3,281	Grass
05L/23R	1,310	4,298	Asphalt
14/32	1,200	3,937	Grass

Statistics (2016)

Passengers	411,661

New Plymouth Airport control tower in 1970

New Plymouth Airport (IATA: NPL, ICAO: NZNP) is an airport that serves the city of New Plymouth and the wider Taranaki Region in New Zealand. It is located on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, about 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the city center.

The airport is a key travel hub for the region. It offers daily flights to major cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch through Air New Zealand. In the past, other airlines like Jetstar Airways and Originair also flew from New Plymouth.

In 2016, New Plymouth Airport was the 9th busiest airport in New Zealand. Over 411,000 people traveled through it that year. This was a big increase from the year before, partly because Jetstar started flying there. In 2020, the airport was voted the second-best regional airport in New Zealand.

Airport History
- Building a New Airport
- Two Terminals and Air Traffic Control
Modern Airport Upgrades
- New Terminal Design
- Future Plans for the Airport
Solar Power at the Airport
Airlines and Destinations
Previous Airlines and Aircraft
Images for kids
See also

Airport History

The first airport in New Plymouth opened in 1933. It had five grass runways. During World War II, this airport became a military airbase for the RNZAF. A famous pilot named Les Munro, who was part of the "Dambusters Raid," learned to fly here. After the war, the airport went back to being used by civilians.

Building a New Airport

In the 1950s and 1960s, New Zealand's travel system was improving. The main airline, NAC, started using new Fokker F27 Friendship planes. These planes needed a paved runway, not just grass. So, a new airport was built in a different spot, opening in 1966.

During the building of the new airport, a small hill had to be leveled. This was a sensitive issue because the hill was a Māori burial ground. Despite protests, the government decided to go ahead with the construction. The new airport replaced the old grass airfield, which is now an industrial area. Stones from the original airport and the RNZAF airbase were moved to the new site to remember its history.

New Plymouth Airport memorial stones

The first terminal building at the new airport was updated in the 1990s. Over the years, parts of the building where people could watch planes were removed due to safety concerns.

Two Terminals and Air Traffic Control

From 2015 to 2020, New Plymouth Airport had two separate terminal buildings. The main terminal was used by Air New Zealand and had a cafe and lounge. A second building, called Terminal 2, was built for low-cost airlines like Jetstar and Originair. This was needed because the main terminal was too small for all the airlines.

New Plymouth Airport has a control tower that helps guide planes safely. It also has a Rescue Fire Service ready for emergencies. The airport's main runway is paved and has lights for night flights.

Modern Airport Upgrades

In 2017, plans were approved for a major upgrade to the airport terminal. The old terminal, built in 1967, was designed for only 60,000 passengers a year. By 2016, it was handling over 400,000 passengers, so a bigger building was definitely needed!

New Terminal Design

The new terminal, which cost about $29 million, was designed to be much larger and more modern. It has separate areas for people arriving and departing, a bigger baggage claim, and more space for shops and cafes. The design also included important cultural elements. Artist Rangi Kipa helped make sure the building reflected the history and stories of the local Te Atiawa tribe.

The new terminal, named Te Hono, opened on March 17, 2020. It can handle up to 650,000 passengers each year. It also has a special outdoor viewing area where people can watch planes without needing a ticket. In 2021, the new terminal was nominated for a special international award for airport design and later won a World Special Prize for its exterior.

Future Plans for the Airport

The airport also has plans to make its main runway longer. This would help bigger planes, like the ATR aircraft that often use the airport, operate more easily, especially in certain weather conditions.

Solar Power at the Airport

A large solar farm is being built next to the airport. This farm will have nearly 14,400 solar panels spread across 15 hectares (about 37 acres) of land. The installation of these panels was finished in January 2025. This solar farm will help power the airport and the surrounding area with clean energy.

Airlines and Destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Air New Zealand	Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington

Previous Airlines and Aircraft

Over the years, many different airlines and aircraft have used New Plymouth Airport.

Airlines that used to fly here:

* Origin Pacific Airways * NAC * Sunair * Jetstar * Originair

Types of aircraft that have used the airport:

* Fokker F27 Friendship * Fairchild-Swearingen Metroliner * Saab 340 * Piper Navajo * Jetstream J31 and J41 * Bombardier Q300 * ATR 72 * Jetstream J32

The airport is also home to general aviation aircraft, which are smaller planes used for private flights or training. You might even see some historic planes like a De Havilland Vampire, an L-39 Albatross, Yak 52s, and a Catalina Flying Boat.