Kerikeri Airport
| Kerikeri Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
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  KKE | |||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Far North Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Kerikeri | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 492 ft / 150 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°15′46″S 173°54′43″E / 35.26278°S 173.91194°E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www.kerikeri-airport.co.nz | ||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Kerikeri Airport (IATA: KKE, ICAO: NZKK), also known as Bay of Islands Airport, is an airport in Kerikeri, New Zealand.
History
The airport was initially a grass airstrip created in the early 1930s (or possibly earlier). During World War II, the airport was taken over by the Defence Department, where it was used for Royal New Zealand Air Force training. After the war ended, it was once again run by local government.
In 1972, Mount Cook Airlines decided to use the airport to connect to tourist resorts. The service failed through lack of patronage. A Kerikeri-Auckland route was started by the airline but was not widely used. It was not until 1992, after the transfer of the airport to Northern Airports Corporation (now merged into Far North Holdings Ltd), that Eagle Airways (a subsidiary of Air New Zealand) took over scheduled service and use of the route increased. Eagle Airways operates Beechcraft 1900Ds, while Air Nelson (another Air New Zealand subsidiary) provides service with Bombardier Dash 8s.[1]
The airport was to undertake a expansion of the runway and apron in 2014–15 to allow for two aircraft to park at once. This was to be paid for by Air New Zealand.[2]
Light aircraft transit
Kerikeri Airport is used by light aircraft arriving or departing from New Zealand. Norfolk Island Airport is 903 km (488 nautical miles) north-west of Kerikeri, 754 km (407 nautical miles) to Noumea in New Caledonia, or 900 km (486 nautical miles) to Lord Howe Island which can be used as a stepping stone to the Australian mainland.
These distances are within the range of many light aircraft when fitted with long range tanks, while the direct distance without using Norfolk Island as a stepping stone is usually beyond their capabilities. From New Caledonia other Pacific Islands such as Vanuatu and Fiji are within range and can be used as further 'stepping stones' to the other South Pacific and North Pacific destinations. Kaitaia Airport also has fuel available and is 52 km (28 nautical miles) closer to Norfolk Island than Kerikeri.
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air New Zealand Link operated by Air Nelson | Auckland[3] |
