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Kaikoura Airport
IATA: KBZ ICAO: NZKI
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Kaikōura District Council
Location	Kaikōura, South Island, New Zealand
Elevation AMSL	19 ft / 6 m
Coordinates	42°25′30″S 173°36′08″E / 42.42500°S 173.60222°E / -42.42500; 173.60222
Map
KaikouraLocation on map of New Zealand
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 700 2,297 Bitumen 05/23 615 2,018 Grass
Source: NZAIP Volume 4 AD

Kaikoura Airport (IATA: KBZ, ICAO: NZKI) is an uncontrolled aerodrome located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) southwest of Kaikōura at Peketā in the South Island of New Zealand.

History

The Airport was opened in 1964. It was constructed by council staff at a cost of 4000 pounds. It had an original grass runway of 575 metres (1,886 ft). In 1983, the Kaikoura Aero Club was formed. In late 1995, the runway was sealed for the increased traffic and to protect it from damage caused by rabbits.

In 1990–91, Air Charter Ltd operated scheduled flights to Christchurch using Cessna 210 aircraft. On 19 July 2004, Sounds Air started twice daily services from Wellington using its Airvan aircraft. But these also ended as of May 2009 as they were not a success.

On 21 November 2016, Sounds Air began a temporary daily Monday to Friday air service from Kaikōura to Blenheim and Christchurch, after the main transport links to the town were severed by the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. The service was planned to run for at least three weeks, using the company's Cessna Caravan. It was extended to the end of December 2017.

Wings Over Whales, a scenic flight operator based at Kaikōura offers whale watching and other charter flights.

Air Kaikoura flew scheduled services to Wellington from 15 May 2020 using a GA-8 Airvan which could take seven passengers. The service was discontinued in February 2021 due to lack of demand.

• The new Kaikoura airport building log cabin style in 2016
• Kaikoura airport, Canterbury, New Zealand, June 2007

Operational information

• Airfield elevation: 19 feet (6 m) AMSL
• Runway 05/23: 700 by 10 metres (2,297 ft × 33 ft) bitumen PCN 18
• Runway 05/23: 615 by 25 metres (2,018 ft × 82 ft) grass ESWL 1090

The aerodrome is operated by Kaikōura District Council and is available for general use without the permission of the operator.

See also

• List of airports in New Zealand
• List of airlines of New Zealand
• Transport in New Zealand

References

1. ^ "NZKI Kaikoura" (PDF). AIP New Zealand. Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. 2 September 2004.
2. Accident history for KBZ at Aviation Safety Network
3. Airport information for NZKI at Great Circle Mapper.
4. "3rd Level New Zealand: Kaikoura Airfield – A History". 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
5. "3rd Level New Zealand: Air Charter (Christchurch)". 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
6. "3rd Level New Zealand: Sounds Air – The Fast Scenic Way to Cross Cook Strait". 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
7. Lowe, Steve (17 November 2016). "Sounds Air comes to Kaikoura's Rescue". 3rd Level New Zealand. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
8. "Why fly with Wings over Whales?".
9. "Blenheim on the radar as Air Kaikōura takes to the skies for its first capital connection". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
10. "Air Kaikoura Aero Club". Akaroa Isite. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

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