Masterton Upgrade Well Underway

 

This piece from the Wairarapa Times Age gives some hope for regional expansion for Air Chathams... The full article includes photos and a video clip of the work in progress... https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360548321/airports-17-million-upgrade-takes-flight-again

Delays to Masterton airport upgrades could be a blessing in disguise as potential regional air service operators wait in a holding pattern. Work was now continuing apace on the $17 million upgrade of Hood Aerodrome with completion expected later in the year. Last year was a rough year for regional air service operators with passenger numbers falling away and some operators cutting routes.Air Chathams had long shown an interest in establishing an air link from Masterton to Auckland and its management had been keeping a close eye on developments at Hood.Early last year the regional airline was hoping the council would finish its upgrade by the end of the year. Air Chathams chief commercial officer Duane Emeny said the industry experienced a “huge drop in demand” last winter so the original plans for Hood’s upgrade completion late last year would not have been timely. “It's probably a little bit of a blessing in disguise in some ways because we were pushing pretty hard for the council to get a lot of that airport infrastructure stuff underway faster and the certification work done faster. It's just taken a bit of a pause the second half of last year when we realised through discussions with council that November wasn't going to be realistic.” Emeny said passenger numbers had improved this month compared to January the previous year and they were hoping for better economic conditions later in the year. “We strongly believe that the growth in the last decade in the Wairarapa has been quite significant. It’s at a point where it could support air services and it could help enhance that growth over the next 10 years.” Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said once the airport upgrades were finished and they had the required certifications, the council would likely have discussions with possible operators to run regular connection services in and out of the region. "We're always happy to talk to anybody who's keen to do anything in that regard. We are optimistic something will happen." The airstrip has been widened by seven metres. The widening of Hood’s runway from 23 metres to 30 metres was completed in December. Masterton District Council senior project manager Lisa Neill said ongoing work included installing runway lighting. “Trenching and laying of conduit is under way. Lighting equipment is in transit and installation will begin in mid-March. In December, PCL and Elite Drainage were selected following an open tender process to undertake the installation of key infrastructure, including water, wastewater, power, roading, and taxiways, for the planned hangar development.” The project was greenlit during the pandemic when $10 million in funding was secured to upgrade the safety features and infrastructure of the aerodrome through the Government’s Kānoa Regional Economic Development fund. The council was contributing $7 million towards the project. Work was continuing on gaining CAA certification which would allow commonly used regional aircraft to use the airport.