Wellington International Airport, New Zealand

Wellington International Airport is a small airport in New Zealand (only 110ha) situated on the Rongotai Isthmus around 7km south-east of Wellington (the capital city).

The airport has a single runway of 1,936m (5,350ft) and as this is short has been rather limited in the past for the international destinations it can serve (the short runway precludes the Boeing 747 landing but the Boeing 747 SP may land). The runway was originally extended from 1,630m in the 1970s to handle DC-8s but now needs extending again. However to do this will require land reclamation into Lyall Bay and breakwater protection from the waters of the Cook Strait and this has been deemed to be too expensive.

Two of the main operators are Qantas and Air New Zealand providing services to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Fiji. The airport is operated by Wellington International Airport Limited (WIAL) and the motto of the airport is 'Wild at Heart'. WIAL was privatised in 1998 and is owned by Infratil (66%), and Wellington City Council (34%). The airport handled a total of 4.6 million passengers in the year up to the end of March 2007 (also 111,000 aircraft movements).

NEW INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

The new international terminal expansion at Wellington is a ground-breaking design, which will put the airport at the forefront of innovative architecture (announced in February 2008).

The new terminal, affectionately called 'the Rock' (NZ$39m, US$31.1m) has been designed as an iconic building for the airport of the capital city. The rock (second phase) is only a part of the entire terminal which is being constructed in two phases and has an estimated total cost of NZ$53m (an airport facility charge is being implemented over the next five years to pay for the terminal improvement).

The phase-two terminal building has been designed by Studio Pacific Architects of Wellington in association with Warren and Mahoney, and is shaped like a giant round brown pumpkin shape with roof fissures containing coloured glass producing interesting light effects.

The international terminal will, following the upgrade, be able to handle 1,000 passengers an hour instead of the previous 500 passengers an hour. The terminal will also be better equipped to handle the new aircraft serving the airport such as the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 (these will be able to fly long haul even with the short runway). The new aircraft and terminal will, it is hoped, open up new international routes and increase the economic viability of the Wellington area.

Other projects being undertaken at the airport that are related to safety include an upgrade of the runway end safety areas which is costing NZ$31m. In addition the retail areas of the airport may be extended and a hotel constructed near the car park. The phase two international airport expansion is expected to be complete by December 2009.

INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL FIRST PHASE

The international terminal upgrade first phase was completed in December 2007 and includes a new international departure farewell area; a better queuing system for customs and a doubling of MAF processing and aviation security screening; new consolidated duty free shopping areas; an extra international baggage belt; an extra aerobridge and also new domestic gates with international swing capacity.

Phase two will add more facilities including an expanded international departure lounge with an additional 660 seats; better gate facilities to reduce queuing; new toilets and a new café; an additional aerobridge (this will give a total of six to eight available for international aircraft; new fuel hydrants and apron works; and spare mezzanine space within the lounge for additional seating or further amenities.

CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE ONE

Phase one of the international terminal has incorporated strong environmental principles with lots of recycling and use of natural materials. Lifts and toilets have been refurbished along with aerobridges, lounge seats have been reupholstered and there has also been reuse and salvaging of ceiling tiles, security cameras, PA, lights, phones and gate signs. For disabled access the refurbishment has incorporated ramps wherever possible.

The construction has used standard materials, for example the windows are aluminium with plywood reveals and the building construction has used plywood, fibreboard and fibre cement.

Much of the internal structure of the terminal has been fitted out in timber or fibreboard which has been sprayed with Resene metallic finishes in steel and gold (Imperite IF 503). The architect for the first phase of the international terminal refurbishment was Craig Moller, the main contractor was Mainzeal Construction and the painting contractor was Kensington Associates.

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