Nelson in Focus

Regional infrastructure

Air

Travelling to other centres by air, Nelson is just 80 minutes from Auckland, 35 minutes from Wellington and 45 minutes from Christchurch.

Nelson Airport is the fourth busiest commercial airport in New Zealand, with flights from 6.30am to 10.30pm daily. Over half a million passengers use the airport annually. The runway is 1,347m by 45m and runs in a north/south direction. There is visitor information, a café and a shop.

The main provider of scheduled services is Air Nelson, operating as Air New Zealand Link, which supplies regular feeder services for international airlines. Helicopter and light aircraft fixed-wing charter and scenic flights are also available. Aircraft serving the region include 50-seat Dash 8 Q300s, and 19-seat Beech 1900Ds. These aircraft offer high frequency services with direct flights to and from Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Palmerston North; there are good connections to all other regional airports in New Zealand.

There is interest in setting up commercial jet services, cargo and charter services, based at Nelson Airport.

Airport associated activities at Nelson Airport include rental car operators and aviation-related servicing. Service industries cater for both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Air New Zealand service their turboprop fleet in Nelson. Helicopters New Zealand service their fleet of helicopters, and a number of smaller aviation servicing companies are also based at Nelson Airport.

Nelson’s reputation as a major arts centre is promoted at the airport, with a gallery of local work exhibited in the main terminal and sculpture and crafted seats outside.

Pilot training and general aviation activities are undertaken at Motueka Airport, including sport aviation activities. There are outlying commercial airstrips at Takaka, Awaroa and Nelson Lakes, where gliding activity takes place.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand
Ph: 0800 737 000

Nelson Helicopters Limited

Tangmere Place, Nelson Airport
PO Box 2382, Stoke, Nelson
Ph: + 64 3 547 1177
Fax: 00 64 3 547 7225
Email: enquiries@nelsonhelicopters.co.nz
Web: www.nelsonhelicopters.co.nz

Nelson Airport Limited

Trent Drive, Nelson Airport
Ph: + 64 3 547 3199
Fax: 00 64 3 547 3194
Email: office@nelsonairport.co.nz
Web: www.nelsonairport.co.nz

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