OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ASSOCIATION July 2017

TRADITIONAL MODEL RE-ENVISIONED BY AIRPORT

Also in this edition ...

New towers at Nelson and ...... p4-5

Resilience key at Queenstown...... p6-7

New tech for air navigation...... p8

Invercargill winning design...... p9

Rotorua tourist gateway...... p10-11

New terminal for New Plymouth...... p12-13

Unique Whangarei attraction...... p14

Beca airport projects... p15

Baggage system challenges...... p16

Malcolm Johns, chief executive (left), signing an exciting developmental partnership with Hangzhou-headquartered E-commerce firm Alibaba (pages 2-3)

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz Christchurch to Revolutionise Traditional Airport Model Overseas visitors to Christchurch International Airport (CIAL) can expect to have their experience “fundamentally reshaped” in coming years, as advanced technologies are collectively harnessed to deliver extremely personalised interactions and services.

Iain MacIntyre initiative is predicated on a newly household in China that is ‘pre- launched developmental partnership qualified’ as wanting to visit Furthermore, with that interaction with Hangzhou-headquartered New Zealand — our focus is on extending to visitors before they leave E-commerce firm Alibaba, explains providing value and not volume.” their own country, as well as while in CIAL chief executive Malcolm Johns. New Zealand and when back home, Mr Johns says Alibaba’s Fliggy the multi-tiered initiative is expected to “Alibaba has one of the biggest travel/social media platform and have significant domestic and export databases in the world — 440 million online payment offering, Alipay, will potential for local, small-to-medium Chinese,” he says. play key roles in stimulating that interactive process. businesses. “You have two choices with that — you can throw a pebble into an ocean “If we know that a household in Tianjin, Partnering to target and hope you hit something or fire a for example, is interacting through Initially targeted at the growing rifle at a rain drop. We’re interested Alibaba’s platforms with someone who Chinese passenger market, the in having a conversation with a single has visited New Zealand, we are

CIAL’s autonomous Smart Shuttle

2 NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017 able to begin the process of drawing Augmented airport reality “For us, the notion of a virtual terminal them down the funnel to visiting has two dimensions to it — one is New Zealand themselves. Another key aspect of the airport what is the medium to long-term company’s initiative is the utilisation trajectory for retail if we don’t have a “We want to be able to suggest to of augmented reality and artificial digital component to it and the other them the best way to get the most intelligence to enhance the passenger is that people under 25 don’t interact out of their experience of coming to arrival experience — albeit, as these with airports in the same way that New Zealand. Depending on their developments are currently in a people over 25 do. And, in terms tastes, that could be anything from commercially sensitive stage, Mr Johns of New Zealand, people under 25 taking photographs of birds, going could only provide a teaser of that make up a significant proportion of for small hikes to simply being in a “virtual terminal” experience. international travellers.” predominantly metropolitan area. “So, say we know you’ve just arrived In regards to current developments on “Because we have a partnership with on a flight from Auckland, we’ve the project, Mr Johns says the roll out all 13 regions of the and already asked you where you are going of both Fliggy and Alipay has recently most of the major tourism companies, and there are ten of you going to the commenced and trials will continue on we are able to use Alibaba’s database same place — we will then organise for the autonomous offering and in other an autonomous shuttle to be ready to in a way that assembles that areas. A related business-to-consumer meet and take all of you to that place. proposition to best meet the known platform, Tmall Global, is expected interests of that household. “We have 6000 people working on, to be in place about this time next “Alipay users in New Zealand will also and 34,000 people going through, year, with the whole project due to be be generating data and a pre-qualified this campus every day. If we can operational for the Chinese market set of behaviours, so when they go consolidate that down to a continuous within two years. back to China we know when they 24/7 transport system that is have a birthday or anniversary coming economically and environmentally Interactive airport up and what ticked their boxes while acceptable, we can reshape the way Looking ahead, Mr Johns says as well they were here.” people move around the campus. as opening up the interactive concept “As another conceptual example, if to other markets, CIAL’s aim within five Smart exporting you arrive from China and are walking years is for all airport visitors to be “as Additionally, Mr Johns says CIAL’s through our terminal, we want to be interactive with us as you are with the initiative will enable “micro-exporting” able to use augmented reality so you rest of your life today”. connections to be established between see all of our signs in Mandarin. Why “Right now, most airports continue to would we put up a physical sign, when small-to-medium businesses in the run an analogue approach to how we we can provide you with a personalised South Island and those individual communicate with you, yet you are digital sign?” Chinese households. fundamentally interacting with your world in a non-analogue way. So we “For example, salmon farmers in the Future retail have to bridge that gap if we want to Mackenzie Country have their stocks Mr Johns says CIAL’s current initiative stay relevant to your lifecycle, day in, cleaned out by tourists in the summer forms part of its overall post-2011 day out. time, but they still produce the same earthquake recovery strategy, which fish in the winter time when there “If we are able to do that, the includes a target of accommodating 8.5 are no tourists. So instead of having conversations we will have with you and million passengers per year by 2025. one sale, if you can then have two or the services we will be able to provide three in a year, you can start soaking On target for that goal, with the airport to you can exponentially grow. Utilising up that winter production into the having achieved a record 6.3 million core data, autonomy and augmented export market. passengers in the 2015-2016 financial reality to reconceptualise the way that year, he adds that the concept is also people interact with airports is at the “Alibaba has proven that where they a means of addressing changing core of what’s driving us.” can create a one-on-one exporting retail dynamics whereby technology relationship, the producer ends up is disrupting the traditional buyer and substantially better off than going seller relationship. through a traditional consolidator “The concern for us is what is the whereby their product tends to be future for airport retail if it can be commoditised from that time forward disintermediated? As an example, with people layering margins on top my wife can buy her perfume of margins. through AliExpress, have it delivered “Plus of course micro-exporting to her door whenever she wants it generates parcel freight which sits very and so doesn’t need to wait for duty nicely in the bellies of aircraft.” free any more.

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 3 Modern Towers for Wellington and Nelson Airways New Zealand is advancing construction of two new towers at Wellington and Nelson airports, purpose-designed to meet the unique requirements of the airports they serve.

Iain MacIntyre ultimately selected location providing Noting that particular eye height will maximum visibility. be achieved without “construction Describing the Nelson Airport facility costs becoming unrealistic”, Airways as a “very functional tower, appropriate Wellington tower for a busy regional airport”, Airways New Zealand project manager Peter interim chief executive officer Pauline Replacing an existing 60-year-old Rivers adds that resilience also Lamb says the $7.5 million newbuild tower, Wellington International Airport’s featured heavily in the planning and will bring an end to navigation services new $18.7 million facility demanded design of the new 32-metre-high and being located on top of the airport specific solutions in regards to location, eight-floor tower. terminal building. resilience and design, says Ms Lamb. “Because Wellington has a higher “We are currently located on top of a “Every time the terminal fire alarm went earthquake risk than some other areas, hill which gives a good view, however, off there was disruption to service,” we’ve built this tower to 100% of the regulations relating to obstacle-free zones says Ms Lamb. commercial code for earthquakes, around the surface of an airport mean we “So, having a standalone tower adds to have had to find a new location. we’ve made it tsunami proof and the resilience of the service resilient as possible,” he says. “We surveyed 18 sites around the “It is also being built to modern airport to find the best possible location “It is base isolated, has concrete shear standards in terms of seismic for visibility and that took about a year. walls to assist with handling tsunamis, protection which adds to our has a generator so is entirely self- “A key point in achieving really good resilience.” visibility at Wellington — where we will sufficient for power, has water storage Ms Lamb says five sites were reach a 28-metre controller-eye-height to operate sprinklers — it is quite a considered for Nelson’s new 22-metre- — is to future-proof growth for what is technical building to achieve that level high and six-floor tower, with the a main city airport.” of resilience.”

Artist’s impression of the Nelson tower

Control Tower in context Ar4 chitects Urban Designers NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017 Interior2 Designers Landscape Architects Airway Nelson Control Tower Scale: NTS Orig. Size: A3 Level 2 TEL: 64 4 802 5444 Drawing No. Job No.: 74 Cub a St FAX: 64 4 802 5446 2244 P.O. Box 11-517 www.studiopacific.co.nz Wellington, NZ [email protected] SK-140 Revision: A © Studio of Pacific Architecture Limited 2016 Printed: 25/10/16,12:14 PM CAD Ref:2174 Nelson Tapered Tower PD would like to thank the airlines for their support in agreeing to build the towers and the airports for their co-operation New Air Traffic in helping us get them off the ground in a very timely manner. We look forward Control Towers to operating them soon.”

Wellington Nelson Last new towers? Cost $18.7 million $7.5 million In regards to potential future development of air control towers in Building height 32 metres 22 metres New Zealand, Ms Lamb says these Floors eight six two newbuilds could very well be Airways’ last. Main body size ten x 13 metres eight metres square “At the moment some of our airports Cab size 44 square metres 42 square metres have a tower with people inside Site size 888 square metres 258 square metres controlling aeroplanes. In the future we’d like to be able to provide some Build year of existing facility 1957 1974 form of central control from our two Construction start January 2016 December 2016 centres in Christchurch and Auckland — especially as this would mean Operational December 2017 February 2018 aircraft and airlines would have the option of landing at our regional ports at any time, day or night. Urban design is blowing from a particular direction “That’s a long-term goal. We’ve started and how strong it is — the direction will to investigate options and will be Furthermore, he says achieving good change the colour and the strength will running some demonstrations this year urban design was a key requirement change the intensity. That is something as to how that could be accommodated to gaining resource consent for the the architects determined we could do in this country. new tower. This is being evidenced in with the building reasonably easily and “Our aim is to be innovative and world such landmark features as constructing at low cost, and that would add another leading, and the solutions on the table the newbuild at a 12.5-degree angle element of interest.” at the moment would lead us to believe into the prevailing northerly wind and there are better options than adding incorporating an LED night display. Ms Lamb adds that the new and modern-equipped air control towers more bricks and mortar.” “We generally do light our towers, but — which will be owned by Airways The new towers are expected to we have added a small weather station but located on new sites leased from become operational at Wellington in on the roof that will tell us if the wind the two airports — are replacing December this year and at Nelson in facilities that were “well passed their February next year. use-by dates”. In a separate development, Airways is to “It is about ensuring we have a soon inhabit a new tower being built by sustainable model for the future. We Todd Corporation at Airport.

Wellington tower in construction Artist’s impression of the Wellington tower

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 53 Building Resilience a Key Focus for The Southern Lakes region is blessed with four distinct seasons and the 2017 winter ski season is well underway with locals and visitors rugging up and enjoying fun on and off the slopes.

Queenstown Airport Corporation There’s been plenty going on at Queenstown Airport over the past few months to prepare for the winter season and the peak flight schedule which kicked off on 22 June. Key focus areas have included working with and to support their regulatory after-dark flight approvals, building parking capacity, and ensuring the airport is as safe, reliable and efficient as possible in all weather conditions. Operational resilience Following the widening and resurfacing of the airport’s main last year ahead of the launch runway. The grooving provides more As part of the airport’s annual ‘gear-up’ of after-dark flights, the final stage of operational resilience by improving for winter operations, more than $1.3 the $20 million airfield upgrade has the surface friction for aircraft landing million has been invested in new runway now been completed – grooving the in wet weather. and apron snow removal equipment. ‘Sven’, the new runway sweeper, arrived from Norway in June and is designed to clear 230,00sqm of surface area per hour. New de-icing procedures have also been introduced to complement the recently grooved runway. More flexibility and choice for travellers All four of the airport’s airlines – , , Qantas and Virgin Australia – are now certified to fly after-dark in and out of Queenstown, providing domestic Runway groovers at work and international travellers with more flexibility and choice. Air New Zealand and Jetstar commenced after-dark services in winter 2016 and Qantas and Virgin launched after-dark flights from Sydney and Brisbane this month. Parking and traffic flow improvements A range of parking and traffic flow improvements rolled out on 1 July to provide more options for locals and

26 NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017 visitors. These included more public Upgrades around lease over . The and staff car parking, Tap ‘n’ Go lease agreement is expected to be technology for easy carpark access, the terminal finalised by the end of the year. and a new Park and Ride facility. A A number of upgrades have been Thereafter, QAC will begin planning new roundabout just inside the airport completed around the terminal, the process to help guide Wanaka entrance, combined with purpose- including more airside retail and food Airport’s future. built coach parks and commercial and beverage options, but the most pickup/drop-off areas, will provide notable is Air New Zealand’s new-look Master plan options a quick entry/exit for rental cars Regional Lounge. Now accommodating For the past year the airport’s and commercial vehicles, reducing around 230 guests – almost double management team has been working the overall number of vehicles on the capacity of the previous lounge - it on developing a 30-year Master Plan. the inner ring road by 40%. By features panoramic mountain views, a After a lot of homework and talking to December, the airport’s car parking spacious sleek interior which reflects key stakeholders, a range of options capacity will have increased by 70% the alpine environment, and facilities has been landed which map out the in a 12-month period. such as a self-service buffet, bar and potential for staged development barista station. through to 2045. All of the options Wanaka Airport have different benefits and potential impacts on the community and the long-term lease region’s economy. The next stage of Queenstown Airport Corporation the Master Plan process is taking the (QAC) has managed the day-to- airport’s thinking to date and seeking day operations at Wanaka Airport the community’s views on what a for the past nine years on behalf of sustainable future looks like and Queenstown Lakes District Council how the airport can achieve the best (QLDC). In April, QLDC made a balance of social, environmental and Air NZ regional lounge decision to grant QAC a long-term economic benefits.

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 73 Ensuring National Coverage with New Air Navigation Technology Aviation access to airports, and thus the dependent communities and their economies, is in a critical phase of re-design to accommodate the use of new navigation technologies. Garry Goodman, GRG Consulting What if … Airways NZ, which provides and maintains most of the current One outcome will be fewer ground Despite satellite navigation being navigation aids, foresaw the coming based navigation aids, yet there extremely reliable, there is a risk of transition and developed their own must be sufficient to provide a safe loss of that system – such as loss of ‘Airways Future Navigation Aid emergency backup to the satellite- capability in the aircraft, loss of adequate Strategy’ in 2013. This has provided based systems. satellite signal at a geographic location, the NSS project with insight to the Airports are part of a review process or in extreme circumstances loss of the system provider’s thinking about future that aims to ensure satellite navigation satellite system. navigation aids being delivered on a commercial basis. is available, and has appropriate While still a ‘work in progress’, it back-up from the ground, in all areas is likely that the civil aviation rules In the last twelve months NSS has currently served by conventional allowing the use of satellite navigation developed the “NZ GBNA Infrastructure navigation aids. as the primary means of navigation Strategy” and convened a “GBNA Commercial aviation in New Zealand will require, for safety reasons, that Review Panel” to apply that strategy has developed using instrument flight all instrument flights have a means and determine what GBNA should procedures that rely on a network of of recovery via conventional ground be retained or installed to support Ground Based Navigation Aids (GBNA) based navigation aids at all phases of satellite navigation, and what can – generally located at, or near, airports the flight. be withdrawn. The Review Panel is servicing those flights. chaired by a Ministry of Transport The implications of this requirement representative and has representation With the advent of satellite navigation for individual aircraft operations in an from the CAA, Airways, Airlines, NZ (such as GPS), aircraft are increasingly environment where there are fewer Defence, small aircraft operators, equipped to use this new technology ground based navigation aids will vary and NZ Airports. Its role is limited to but are limited by safety rules which depending on a number of factors making recommendations to the various are still based on the use of GBNA. including the aircraft performance decision-makers (eg Airways for delivery This is not unique to New Zealand. (fuel range in particular) and the of commercial navigation aids, CAA for topography of the route to the planned rules, MOT for Government policy). Modernisation programme alternate airport. As part of a world-wide drive led Country-wide review by the International Civil Aviation Ground-based support Ideally NSS will deliver a much Organisation, the NZ Civil Aviation One of the NSS streams of work is to safer and more efficient aviation Authority is part-way through leading review the ground based navigation aids environment through the use of new a programme to modernise the New needed to support satellite navigation technology. However new rules and Zealand aviation system to enable the on the basis of these assumed rule changes to the navigation aid network use of this new technology. requirements. This is being approached will impact differently on different ‘New Southern Sky’ (NSS) is a from two different but overlapping aircraft operations and destinations. collaborative programme involving a perspectives – firstly the GBNA Each part of the country is being wide range of aviation stakeholders to necessary to provide the minimum examined separately. Once the GBNA deliver the National Airspace and Air operating network with the intention of Review Panel has prepared draft Navigation Plan over the decade to enabling satellite navigation procedures recommendations it will be desirable 2023. This covers not just navigation, to be operated in all areas that can for airports and aircraft operators, on behalf of their passengers and but other aspects such as the means currently be flown with conventional communities, to review any potential of monitoring aircraft positions, the use instrument flight procedures. Secondly impact of the proposed navigation of new technologies for transferring to consider the GBNA needed to network on their operations. data between the aviation network and deliver ‘contingency’ commercial aircraft, and resilience of the aviation flight operations between Auckland, The GBNA Review Panel has yet system as a transport network. It is a Wellington and Christchurch in the event to make recommendations but is system-wide re-design with safety and that satellite navigation is not available expected to complete its role by the efficiency objectives. (possibly for an extended period). end of 2017.

8 NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017 : Winning Design Captures the Spirit of Travel An airport provides the first impression of a region for arriving visitors and when architects Warren and Mahoney were asked to design a new airport for Invercargill they wanted to create a modern, elegant design which reflected the beauty and diversity of the Southland region, as well as its distinctive culture.

Warren and Mahoney The airport design has proved to be a winning design, carrying off the Public Award at the Southern Architecture Awards, organised by the New Zealand Institute of Architects. The awards judges said the airport design was a “strong, simple form with local reference Photograph: Sarah Rowlands distinguished by exemplary planning and excellent way-finding.” They said the project had been executed “with Southland beech timber, and local company had aimed to create a admirable attention to detail”. aggregates in the polished concrete floor. terminal building that Southland could Project architect Jeremy Dunlop, from be proud of. He said the NZIA design Jeremy Dunlop said there were a Warren and Mahoney’s Queenstown award cemented the airport’s win number of challenges throughout the studio, said the design was originally as the Regional Airport of the Year two year construction project: the chief inspired by the historic World War Two at last year’s New Zealand Airports one being that the airport needed to hangars located on the site, while the Conference. terminal building was designed in a low, be fully operational throughout the curving form suggestive of a large aircraft construction period. The other main The airport project, he said, had been wing “to capture the romance of flight.” drivers were the airport’s brief for a one of “innovative thinking, engagement The terminal is designed on a structurally building that would be flexible enough and most of all collaboration. to allow for future expansion, and that efficient grid to allow for the smooth “It has transformed the airport from would be economical to maintain and processing of passengers, but also to a dated 1960s building to a modern, reduce its energy consumption. allow for future expansion by adding bays. functional and practical gateway On arrival passengers are greeted The airport design also won a Resene for Southland.” by a colonnade which provides a Colour Award at the Awards. The civic quality to the building. Several judges said, “A device as simple as textural precast concrete pods have choosing a lime yellow for the framing Photograph: Sarah Rowlands been designed to reflect the varied of the arrival and departure doors is typography of Southland, from Stewart so helpful to the first time visitor to this Island to Milford Sound, and an internal new airport building. This is a good wall graphically illustrates the native example of the intelligent use of colour flora and fauna of the region. to aid building performance.” Materials were chosen for their Invercargill Airport General Manager, connection to the region, and include Nigel Finnerty, said that the airport

Photograph: Sarah Rowlands Photograph: Sarah Rowlands Photograph: Sarah Rowlands

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 9 Regional Airport Enhances Tourist Gateway Experience Visitors to Rotorua Regional Airport will instantly appreciate they are entering a sophisticated, local tourism sector when an estimated $4.9 million upgrade of the airport’s terminal building is completed in the middle of next year.

Iain MacIntyre specific niches that are starting to up a rental car from the airport, use play very well — mountain biking, it while they’re here and then drive it Although modestly describing the contemporary Maori culture and health back to Auckland. upgrade — which will be completed and wellbeing. on the same footprint and envelope “We’re finding we need to stay tuned as the existing 1960s-built terminal — “Those are areas Rotorua is driving into being a multi-faceted transport as “quite a simplistic build”, Rotorua as having a particular strength in. It is hub. So while we are developing Regional Airport chief executive Mark important from a gateway perspective the aviation side of things, we need Gibb says it will “create a greater that we as an airport can facilitate that to be cognisant of providing for the sense of arrival”. traveller profile into the building.” rental car companies — ease of access for their vehicles and those “From a visual perspective, it is about The terminal upgrade is expected sort of things.” giving people a better sense they are to also enable the airport to better entering the building and understanding accommodate future passenger Mr Gibb does not expect airlines that they are in Rotorua — we’re not growth, with visitor numbers having to notice much difference to their just a vanilla airport,” he says. increased by 4-5% per annum over the operations as a result of the upgrade past three years to now total 250,000 other than some “minor efficiency gains”. “That will happen through the passengers per year. architectural form and in the material “The back-of-house side of it hasn’t elements of the building — a bias “We’re in a strong growth phase. been big for us — we tend to have around timber and harnessing the Over the next two years the objective facilities that work well in terms views we have of Lake Rotorua and is to push that number towards of baggage handling, passenger Mokoia Island. 300,000 passengers.” facilitation and the management side of house.” “We are also looking at the broader Albeit, Mr Gibb notes evolving trends customer experience and tapping into in the broader movements of travellers Similarly, the airport already has a all elements in our food and beverage are changing the make up and large degree of future proofing in its offering — everything you can interpretation of those numbers. existing facilities. envisage as being best in class from “So while someone might previously “The benefit of Rotorua is we have a an airport perspective. have flown in and out of Rotorua, runway that was set up for A320s when “It is about addressing an outdated there are more free and independent the Sydney connection was running, building that doesn’t represent where travellers around now. They may so we are well provided for there, and Rotorua is going from a contemporary fly here, stay in Rotorua longer and adjacent to the domestic terminal is tourism perspective. Rotorua is hub — use Rotorua to go to Waitomo, the international terminal which is not becoming a far more sophisticated Hobbiton and Taupo instead of staying currently being used. tourism market. It has got some in those locations — and may pick “So we have space to grow organically into the future. We’re in a good space there.” The international terminal will also play a key role in minimising disruption during the project construction phase, with the airport planning to “decant” arrivals to the building until works are completed on the domestic terminal. “There won’t be a lot of inconvenience from the traveller’s perspective, there will just be a separation in building in terms of arrivals and departures.”

210 NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017 Introducing Mark Gibb

Rotorua Regional Airport chief executive Mark Gibb is looking forward to leveraging his 30-plus years’ experience in the commercial world to further expand the airport’s role as the gateway to the Bay of Plenty region.

Iain MacIntyre “Where my skill as Auckland International Airport set will bring commercial and industrial property Gaining a Bachelor of Commerce the most benefit manager between 1992-1994, (Valuation and Property to Rotorua is when the business was transitioning Management) at Lincoln from an holistic through corporatisation. He notes University, Mr Gibb’s career has commercial some positive evolutions in the covered a range of property- intervening period. orientated roles, with strong bias perspective and towards governance, strategic where that is “Certainly in the time I was with planning and finance. The most really specific is versus now, the recent of which saw him lead a the land parcel general observation at a relationship team of 35 staff across a property — we have level with Air NZ is it is partnership- and facilities portfolio comprising 104 hectares but only 50% of that is orientated, as to back then it was 980 sites in 28 countries, as currently being used. more adversarial. Fonterra global property and “There is a big opportunity from a “Key local tourism operators are also facilities general manager. spatial planning and master planning taking a far more globally orientated Recalling fondly his “number of perspective to actually get a bit approach towards marketing their years growing up in Rotorua”, Mr smarter about how that broader land product offshore. This provides Gibbs and family recently decided to holding is used. A lot of work is going great opportunities for packaging at relocate to the area and soon after on with council and stakeholders to a regional level — airports can be the opportunity of the airport chief aggressively shape what that future a significant player in strategically executive position arose. could be.” facilitating connections of offshore markets to airline linkages into “I have a real passion for Rotorua, I Aligned with that work, Mr Gibb is tourism destinations. understand the landscape and the moving to refresh the Airport Master way the place works,” says Mr Gibb. Plan itself. “A large amount of effort is going in from an airport perspective “I have a grounding that potentially “That will provide the road map to work with the tourism puts me in good stead for the role.” as to how we manage and deploy organisations and entities around infrastructure and how we precinct plan Although somewhat still easing into moving people from the point the airport going forward.” the position, which he commenced of booking through the airport in January this year, Mr Gibb is Mr Gibb does have some familiarity system. It’s certainly a focus for already forming goals. with the airport sector, having served us to play harder in that space.”

In conjunction with the terminal engaged in their roles and with we’re expecting to deliver a $600,000 development, the airport is also upgrading the airport.” net operating surplus against a budget its fire station and rescue operations. of $140,000.” In regards to financing for the “The rescue fire station is really a project — which Mr Gibb hopes will Having received ten expressions of response to addressing an outdated be completed a reasonable amount interest to its request for information on the project, the airport has advanced to building that has seismic integrity under the $4.9 million budgeted — he a short list of four parties and expects deficiencies. It is also effectively a notes the business has a “fairly strong to move to tender in early August. demolition and rebuild at the same balance sheet” backed up by “an aggressive debt repayment strategy”. Construction is due to commence in location, while ensuring we are late September, with the fire station bringing in state-of-the-art safety “The development cost will be funded and rescue operations elements of the management systems and providing from existing operational reserves and project expected to be completed in a better and more conducive work within our current debt facilities. We’re the first quarter of 2018, one quarter space, so they become more going to have a good operating year — ahead of the terminal.

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 113 Major Upgrade for A brand new terminal and other enhancements being introduced by New Plymouth Airport will significantly raise the visitor experience, improve operations and ensure the business has capacity to accommodate future growth through to one million passengers per annum.

Iain MacIntyre expecting 2% growth each year from That could be 20 years away.” now on.” To be constructed on a new site at the Being designed by Beca Consultants airport, the newbuild 4092-square- However, Mr Wootton emphasies in conjunction with local firm, Jackson metre terminal will replace the existing that future growth forecast — for Architects, the newbuild has presented 1430-square-metre main terminal and what is already the country’s fourth- the opportunity to modernise and temporary 450-square-metre Jetstar busiest regional airport — could prove enhance the customer experience, terminal. Built in 1967 to accommodate extremely conservative if a planned says Mr Wootton. 50,000 passengers annually, the main regional strategy to boost Taranaki “Negotiations are currently underway terminal has simply “passed its useby tourism numbers proves successful. with the incumbent café owner Jim date”, says New Plymouth Airport chief “If that takes off we could potentially Hickey for a new café in the terminal. executive Wayne Wootton. have another 200,000 passengers a If an agreement can be reached, they “We’ve got to the stage where if it year. We’re initially building for about are going to model the new café on rains, the roof is leaking quite badly, 550,000-600,000 passengers per year Jim’s Queenstown Airport’s food and and we have asbestos in the walls,” and we expect to reach that in about beverage operation. he says. seven or eight years. But if the tourism “We have the option to expand the numbers grow we could be there three “It is above building code, and is retail space and the concourse in years earlier. designed to withstand an earthquake, the terminal will be fully glazed — so but may be severely damaged. Customer experience visitors will be able to see all the way to Mount Taranaki at the end of Airport Providing for growth “We designed the terminal for Drive when they arrive.” a Code Level C in 2023 on the “Meanwhile, over the last ten years International Airport Transport we’ve had 4.8% passenger growth Maori influence Association comfort scale1. annually — and that was before Jetstar In recognition that the airport resides started in February 2016. Since then “The new terminal is also designed on land previously owned by local we’ve grown by another 23%, so with future expansion in mind with Maori, Puketapu hapū have been we’re currently at 420,000 passengers three extension phases to take us up engaged in the creative process to per year and we’re conservatively to a million passengers if required. impart a strong cultural influence on the newbuild’s design. “The land is believed to be the origin point of the hapū and the building tells the story of a celestial being descending from above to meet a local woman — from this encounter stems the beginning of Puketapu. The terminal depicts

1 Level C is an international aviation benchmark for terminal design which ensures good comfort for passengers.

212 NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017 this meeting, seeing the building stepping down to meet the earth. “The building is also curved to form an embrace, not only building on this origin narrative but as a symbol to greet and farewell family, friends and visitors to the Taranaki region. The orientation of the building follows the old Puketapu track, linking the mountain to the rich fishing grounds on the coast, giving the terminal a move them into the terminal and we’re prominent view shaft to the mountain. Few development impacts putting in facilities for a potential third- “The baggage claim area will further tier operator. Budgeted at between $21.7 million and enhance this cultural narrative $28.7 million, the upgrade project is “The existing Air NZ Koru Lounge and provide history and clarity on expected to be largely funded through is tiny, so they are going to take the the building design and historical increased airport revenue, with no opportunity to quadruple its size. importance of the land to Puketapu.” imposition on rate payers and no “We’re building in aviation security, expectation of a separate departure Mr Wootton says the newbuild will because we feel that by the time levy on passengers. enhance New Plymouth’s strong public this terminal is built and operational, art strategy, which has seen the recent Having received over 300 responses opening of the Len Lye Centre and we could potentially require tighter to a customer survey, which helped Govett-Brewster Art Gallery as well aviation security screening for determine priorities for the upgrade, Mr as the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge — the regional passengers. Wootton says feedback for the project — latter built over the Waiwhakaiho River “We’re also changing the airport including from the New Plymouth District linking the Coastal Walkway between roading system, extending the carpark Council — has largely been positive. New Plymouth and Bell Block. and putting in a new aircraft stand on “We did quite a robust business case “Ours will be another unique building. the apron so we’ll have five instead of for the build and engaged an aviation We’re hoping we’ll be able to attract four. So there is a lot involved in it, it’s consultant to undertake the financial visitors to the building itself — we’re not just a terminal development.” modelling for us and it all stacked up.” looking to be a destination rather than He says the terminal itself will be Being a completely new development just a transit place.” able to accommodate larger aircraft on a new location, it is proposed that expected in the future — albeit that the existing terminal will remain fully Operational benefits would necessitate an extension of the operational during the construction Aided by input from Air NZ and airport’s relatively short runway. and Mr Wootton expects both the Jetstar, the development is expected construction of and transition to the “We’ve designed for 68-seat ATRs and to additionally deliver numerous newbuild to prove a seamless exercise. 50-seat Q300s, but if Air NZ suddenly operational benefits for the gateway to announced they wanted to bring in Advanced works are expected to the Taranaki region, he says. 90-seat ATRs — which has been talked commence before the end of the year, “Jetstar are currently in their own about for a couple of years now — the with construction proper beginning temporary building, they are not in terminal itself would cater for this size early next year and completion the main terminal. So we are going to of aircraft.” expected by about April 2019.

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 13 Unique New Building Has Tourism Potential is excited about the tourism potential of the proposed Hundertwasser Maori Art Museum.

Mike Chubb, Whangarei Airport This project has been quite controversial. Debate on building it and questions over the funding required have been simmering away for over 20 years. It was brought to a head when the Whangarei District Council held a referendum on the matter in 2015 and a good majority of rate payers supported the proposal - subject to Council’s only financial input being Photograph: Steve Sharpe upgrading the existing building’s earthquake standards. The proponents of the project were left to find the vast Maori Art Gallery is an integral part of In turn, this will generate new demand majority of the 20.5 million dollars the project, housed inside the building, for hotel beds in the city and many required. The ‘yes’ vote gave just two and in itself will be perhaps be the best other spinoff benefits. years to find this funding. exhibition of Maori art in New Zealand. Whangarei Airport, just 6 Km away, The full amount was raised at the 11th It is thought that there will be sees potential in this project from its hour (this June) so it seems Whangarei considerable tourism interest in the own perspective in growing visitor will get this unusual yet magnificent Hundertwasser building and it will numbers. It is proposed construction building built at long last. The Wairau become a visitor destination for many. will be completed sometime in 2020.

Photograph: Steve Sharpe

214 NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017 Beca Airports Projects The Beca Airports team remain busy and committed to helping our clients achieve their business goals. This update covers recent successes in Australia together with a roundup of recent projects and initiatives in New Zealand.

Beca Airports using a collaborative communication framework, set up between Wellington In Australia, we have combined Airport, Beca, Fulton Hogan and successfully with both Arup and Golder Airways. The Mission Statement for Associates for two sizeable projects the team is “Excellence in airport at Melbourne and Sunshine Coast maintenance, through teamwork, with Airports. Both involved the design pride” and this is based on a number of of additional runway capacity – for The Sunshine Coast Runway and Melbourne their third and for Sunshine Airport Expansion project is in planning Shared Goals: Coast their second runway. Safety – Safety first, everyone The Sunshine Coast Runway and and lower deck doors of the A380, goes home without harm though with flexibility to allow access Airport Expansion project will deliver Communication – Up front, to the front and rear door of a B777 or a 2,450m runway and associated above the line infrastructure to allow A330s and two Code C aircraft. The works also Boeing 787s to access markets extended into the reconfiguration of the Teamwork – Enjoyment, across Australasia. This will create an lounges and reflected similar work respect, professionalism which we had carried out at Auckland economic boost for tourism and export Quality – Right first time businesses into the future. Airport. Our team were involved from concept design to a successful Delivery – On time, minimise The Melbourne Runway Development delivery, including Airport Planning, disruption Programme is in the Schematic Civil, Structures, Building Services Innovation – Always Improving Design phase of the new 3,000m and Project and Cost Management. runway system, with the Beca team Works were completed to a very tight The partnership has allowed the team focussing on achieving every delivery timeframe and on budget. to work closely together and deliver milestone (so far so good). Chris Bren, both minor and major capital works, Project Manager Further south, the icing was put on the appreciate the unique challenges said “Beca have achieved every major cake of the Runway Widening Project within each organisation and to milestone requested of them to date. at Queenstown Airport, before the communicate in advance any potential This has enabled us to plan our design real snow and ice arrived. The runway concerns in a proactive manner. This phases with confidence knowing received grooves with a trapezoidal has borne fruit, with the successful that we will receive the required profile, following extensive research delivery of the Bravo 5 Fillet Widening deliverables on time”. of cold weather grooving techniques in a complex operational environment in Canada and the US. These not only and in winter. In New Zealand we have enabled allow declaration of a dry runway in the the use of Stands 30 and 31 at We remain passionate and proud of rain, but also make it easier to clear Christchurch Airport to allow daily use the work we do, so if you’d like to away snow from the grooves. by A380 flights. The Multiple Aircraft talk to anyone in the Beca Airports Ramp System (MARS) configuration At , the Airfield team, let us know by contacting us on allows airbridges to access the upper Maintenance Works is being delivered [email protected].

The Runway Widening Project at Queenstown Stands 30 and 31 at Christchurch Airport have Airport was completed before snow and ice arrived been enabled for daily use by A380 flights

Level 6, Perpetual Guardian Building, 99-105 Customhouse Quay, Wellington | PO Box 11369, Wellington 6142 | +64 4 384 3217 | nzairports.co.nz 153 Challenges for Airport Baggage Systems Get it right and the system will function within the expected user requirements. Get it wrong and it will provide constant frustration.

John Fitzgerald, xplane and how to manage implementation, The onset of the permanent often with multiple suppliers involved: The , or bag tag. Less and less need for BHS, is often the largest piece of fixed IATA Resolution 753. The need terminal based bag tag printers plant in an airport terminal. When for airlines to provide a trace of Increased focus of return on it works well the system functions each bag at custodial transfers, investment from the baggage transparently within user expectations. not only at aircraft loading, but system. Airlines are increasing When it doesn’t aircraft are delayed now also for inbound/reclaim the pressure on airports to and frustrations escalate. Possible onset of regional do more with less, instead of With the onset of higher tourist security screening. How will this building more. This requires the baggage system to be numbers and the ever increasing be implemented and how much more efficient desire to travel by air, airports are room will it require? under increased pressure to expand. Increased management Increased frequency of flight demand to drive performance Baggage systems used to be simple schedules especially on main with improved metrics for on/off conveyors transporting bags routes. What is the impact usage, operations and from check-in through to the baggage on baggage make-up space, maintenance of baggage hall for manual flight makeup. This aircraft parks/gates, and is all changing as technology drives systems baggage system capacity? innovation, passenger numbers Energy footprint and system increase and capital expenditure Increased early bag power efficiency. Baggage comes under increasing focus. requirements, as airlines systems often have conveyors improve the passenger There are some key areas of the running for long periods with experience being offered baggage system that are undergoing little or no load, and use old change in the near future and airport Make-up space allowance for inefficient motor technology. managers need to consider the impact multiple ground handlers xplane is an independent engineering Automated design consultancy specializing in common use airport baggage systems and their Self Service associated process’. xplane is made up Bag Drop of three members, based in Auckland becoming and enjoys working with all ports small, common medium regional and larger. place for domestic travel NZ AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION throughout NZ. Current Level 6 Perpetual Guardian Building methods of 99-105 Customhouse Quay checking/ Wellington dropping PO Box 11369 bags are Manners Street reaching end Wellington 6142 of life and this www.nzairports.co.nz will impact airports of all sizes. Both back and front of house will Schematic of explosive detection system (EDS) at an airport be impacted.

216 NZ Airports Magazine | July 2017