By Charlotte Shipman
The first commercial flights in and out of the new Kapiti Coast airport have begun.
Air New Zealand is confident the new service between Paraparaumu and Auckland will be well supported by locals who've been wanting the service for years.
Through the gorse and long grass, the first commercial flight from Auckland to the Kapiti Coast emerged today. It's a landing which has been five years in the making and means locals like Nigel Trewhitt no longer have to fly into or out of Wellington.
"It's huge," he says. "I travel to Auckland a lot on business, so it means a six-minute drive to the airport instead of an 86-minute drive, so we can sleep in a bit longer."
Eighteen return flights will operate throughout the week. Monday to Friday, there'll be three flights a day.
The new service means around 150 people can fly to Auckland and back each week day.
The 70-year-old aerodrome has had major renovations to ensure it can cope. It cost $3 million to resurface the main runway, but the long-term parking hasn't had the same treatment.
Air Nelson is running the service on behalf of Air New Zealand.
"It's crucial that we do get the support from the Kapiti region and also from the Auckland region because we do require people to travel in both directions for this service," says Grant Kerr, general manager of Air Nelson.
The new airport is already popular within the coastal community, with residents like Ken and Phyl Goldsworthy using it as their new local cafe.
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