Hamilton Airport's multi-million dollar upgrade
Tuesday, 4 June 2019
Hamilton Airport is set for a major revamp with plans for a complete refurbishment.
The multi-million dollar upgrade includes a revamped departure area, new flooring and interior colours, more workspaces with charging units and digital display units showing local history, tourism and events.
Airport chief executive Mark Morgan said more passengers and a strong regional economy are factors behind the project. He declined to give an exact cost of the project while the work is out for tender.
Morgan said the project would be funded directly by the airport company WRAL and would not require any financial support from its five shareholding councils. WRAL is a council-controlled organisation owned by Hamilton City, Otorohanga, Waipa, Waikato and Matamata-Piako District Councils.
The airport has not had a refurbishment since 2007, and the revamp was an opportunity to reflect the growth in the region, Morgan said.
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'We want to stay relevant and current.
'It just needs that upgrade. We are very keen to make the terminal the gateway to the Waikato.'
A second stage of the project will focus on the terminal entrance, the drop-off area, creating a pedestrian-friendly plaza and more landscaping and trees.
Rental cars will be relocated out of the main car park and the taxi stand will be moved. The terminal will not be extended, and the upgrade will fit into the current footprint of the building.
The airport will also undertake earthquake strengthening work to bring it up to building code standards.
The strengthening will occur throughout different parts of the building and makes up a significant cost of the upgrade work, Morgan said.
Work is scheduled to begin in early 2020 and is expected to take 12-18 months.
Passenger numbers on the flights to Christchurch, Wellington and Palmerston North increased by nine per cent during 2018 and the airport saw a total 24 per cent increase in passengers over the past three years, Morgan said.
He thought more people were flying to those centres from Hamilton, rather than travelling to Auckland Airport.
'People are taking the view of even if the fares are still slightly higher [from Hamilton], parking challenges are lower, there is the ease of using the airport and you don't have the risk of not knowing how long it will take to get to Auckland Airport.'
But the refurbishment is not part of any plans to reinstate international flights, he said.
'I guess what it does is it prepares the terminal for the next 15-20 years.'
He envisioned the airport could double passenger numbers in that timeframe.
Morgan also suggested there could be more connection between Hamilton Airport and Auckland Airport in high speed rail service, looking ahead 30 years.
In the long run, you could be looking at a high speed connection between the airports that takes about 45 minutes, he said.
The airport is speaking to Air New Zealand about more flights out of the airport for the November 2019 - March 2020 timeframe.
There is a good case to be made for more, though Air New Zealand recently signalled some reduced domestic flight capacity, Morgan said
'Many peak flights were leaving Hamilton absolutely full which indicates there is demand for more seats. So the numbers are very strong and given some of the low fares now available out of Hamilton, we're absolutely confident that if further capacity is added, passenger growth will continue.'
Morgan expected a main contractor for the work to be appointed by mid-June.
Hamilton Airport Hotel, owned by WRAL, is also undergoing a makeover, with plans to offer four-star accommodation and conference facilities.
Flights will not be disrupted and the airport will remain open while the refurbishment takes place, Morgan said.