Consultants Egis are asking members of the community to share their views on the future of Wānaka Airport, presenting options ranging from its closure to developing it into an international airport.

More input is being sought on the five different scenarios: close the airport; have general aviation only; domestic routes to Christchurch and/or Wellington; domestic routes including Auckland; and an international airport.

Another four complementary scenarios have been developed by Egis, all of which are now open for consultation at the Let’s Talk webpage.

What are the options?

Close Wānaka Airport

Based on the first round of consultation, this was the least supported option. The majority of people valued an airport in Wānaka. 

General aviation airport only  

Under this option, there would be no scheduled passenger services to other airports. The focus would remain on light aircraft, training, and recreational flying.

In the first round of engagement, the most common response was to keep the airport ‘as it is’ with no major changes (39 percent support).

The majority of responses were to keep the airport as close to how it is now, showing support for local businesses. 

General aviation airport with domestic routes to Christchurch and/or Wellington

This option would require a terminal but no change to the current runway. It would allow for smaller aircraft carrying between eight and 30 passengers.

To achieve this scenario, the airport would need to attract and work with airline operators in the short to medium term. The viability of a route would depend on sustainable passenger numbers and willingness to pay.

General aviation airport with domestic routes including direct to Auckland

This option would require an airline to commit to new scheduled passenger services, going further by including a direct route to Auckland.

Services would be operated by larger aircraft than in the last scenario, using aircraft that carry more passengers, like a Q300 (50 passengers), ATR72 (68 passengers), or possible new aircraft types to the New Zealand market, including smaller regional jets like some of the Embraer fleet (30–115 passenger aircraft). 

Small regional jets could be considered by airlines for the direct flights.

Primarily domestic, and international airport focused

An international airport would have significant costs, require more infrastructure and will impact general aviation.

This was the second least supported option after closing the airport.

The four ‘complementary’ options

Based on the first round of engagement, Egis has developed four complementary options that could be achieved in tandem with one of the other options.

The first imagines Wānaka airport as a ‘more prominent community asset’, with medical emergency and patient transfer services, a civil defence centre, and recreational facilities; while the second focuses on the airport becoming a ‘centre of aviation excellence’, with the development of additional hangars and utilities, attracting flight training schools and on-site accommodation.

The third complementary option imagines a more mixed-use area with a business park, community services, a solar farm and community battery, and the like.

The final complementary options questions whether a financially self-sufficient Wānaka Airport is on the cards, if airport users are prepared to pay more, if Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) finds more revenue streams, and more contributions from ratepayers.

Feedback on the future scenarios is open until September 18.

The scenarios are part of the Wānaka Airport Future Review, which is exploring the airport’s long-term role, its economic impact, and local views about its future.

PHOTOS: Supplied