IFT - Infratil

[777]

HLZ has the advantage of proximity and the ability to improving infrastructure at much lower cost. There are some weather related issues such as fog, but modern ILS systems present on larger aircraft (e.g. CAT IIIB, CAT IIIC) would render this mostly a non issue.

I suspect given HLZ's lacklustre passenger numbers (they are now the 10th busiest well behind NPL at 9th), they will be looking at both this option and becoming a freight hub. It will however IMO be a difficult sell to carriers.

The cost to upgrade to Cat3b is not insignificant with all the approach lighting and additional runway lighting required. There is only the one runway in NZ that is up to this standard and that is in Auckland. Hamilton doesn't even have a parallel taxiway to exit onto. Where would you park more than three or more wide bodies?