AIR - Air NZ.

**stoploss** · 17-05-2018, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Jantar

Geographically, Wanaka is a much better site for a large airport than Queenstown. Less affected by low cloud, and a much safer approach from any direction. It also has the advantage that the runway can be lengthened, with only a slight realignment, to take some of the more modern wide bodied aircraft.

Much safer from the West ?

**Jantar** · 17-05-2018, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by stoploss

Much safer from the West ?

Very much so. The prevailing wind is from the North west and the valley is sufficiently wide for large aircraft to let down and turn onto finals over Tarras. If there is a southerly wind then aircraft approaching from the northwest have all of lake Hawea to let down over and give them an unobstructed run in of more than 50 km. less turbulence as well.

I have landed at both airfields many times, although more at Wanaka than Queenstown when I am the pilot.

**Beagle** · 18-05-2018, 10:29 AM

I think Wanaka has huge potential. Its probably already overrun by tourists but not to the overwhelming extent that Queenstown is. I suspect a LOT of Kiwi's would be very happy to use this as this gateway to the South and avoid some of the intense crowding at Queenstown.

**777** · 18-05-2018, 10:35 AM

The biggest problem last time AIR operated Wanaka was the differential in the price of tickets between Wanaka and Queenstown. You could pay for a taxi fare from Wanaka to Queenstown and still pay less than departing from Wanaka. A larger aircraft will make a difference in pricing but it remains to be seen how this plays out.

**Beagle** · 18-05-2018, 11:05 AM

A pilot told me there's very little price difference between operating an ATR600 with 68 seats and a little Beechcraft 19 seater. No wonder AIR so keen to ditch those little planes. Wanaka probably has the critical mass now to warrant its own ATR service ex Chch. Doubt there will be a single congratulatory remark from Shane Jones, (plenty of wealthy Europeans in Wanaka, (hardly the demographic he's trying to make political capital from is it).

**Sideshow Bob** · 18-05-2018, 11:30 AM

Most of Queenstown (domestic) traffic/capacity is AKL - ZQN. Today for instance, there is 7 x A320's from Auckland, 2 x A320 from Welly, and 4 flights from Chch, 1 x jet and 3 x ATR's.

So the capacity into Queenstown is not great from Chch. Say maybe about 400 seats per day.

**Raz** · 18-05-2018, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Sideshow Bob

Most of Queenstown (domestic) traffic/capacity is AKL - ZQN. Today for instance, there is 7 x A320's from Auckland, 2 x A320 from Welly, and 4 flights from Chch, 1 x jet and 3 x ATR's.

So the capacity into Queenstown is not great from Chch. Say maybe about 400 seats per day.

capacity ex Christchurch , demand is flakey as the price point means if the A320 flights are at silly price point easier to drive down and also if iffy weather in winter you would only rely on the A320 flights rather than the ATRs so more options than Auckland, also on Em and Singapore airline direct into chch so is a way smaller hub than Auckland.