Airways says it is on track to provide air traffic control coverage to allow RNZAF Ohakea to operate as a 24/7 alternate for airlines serving New Zealand.
It has four controllers in training and they are expected to become available to support Ohakea operations ‘at various stages’ over the next 10 months.
The government is committed to making Ohakea a fulltime alternate to Auckland and Christchurch. The lack of 24/7 availability limits scheduling flexibility and increases operational costs to service New Zealand routes.
Under aviation safety rules, commercial flights must nominate an alternate runway in case their destination airport is closed due to weather or another event and airlines pay millions of dollars a year to nominate Ohakea, even though it has no round the clock coverage at present.
An Airways spokesperson says it is seeking to ensure it provides an optimal balance between resilience and cost effectiveness in the solution implemented. Work is progressing well and it is currently on track to deliver the capability by mid-2027. A Cabinet paper shows it will spend $1.7m next year in additional staff costs for Ohakea and at other sites as a part of the plan.
. . . Airline Reaction
Board of Air Line Representatives New Zealand executive director Cath O’Brien says Ohakea is a critical operational alternate airport for airlines who fly to New Zealand.
Nominating Ohakea for journeys to Auckland, for example, allows airlines to substantially reduce fuel requirements, reduce carbon burn, and carry more passengers and cargo—all of which improve the viability of the service.
“Ohakea is a critical part of New Zealand’s aviation infrastructure, offering an alternative landing place if services to our large airports are interrupted by weather events. This is particularly important given the distances airlines travel to reach New Zealand.”
She says BARNZ members welcomed Minister of Aviation James Meager’s commitment to ensure Ohakea is available 24/7. “In our regular discussions with Airways, BARNZ continues to note the importance of Ohakea for airlines operating here.”
