The Bell Block based New Plymouth Airport keeps getting busier, with 2013 a record year for passenger numbers. The number of people flying in and out of New Plymouth Airport rose seven per cent between 2012 and 2013, increasing from 310,943 to 332,178 passengers.
And 2014 has got off to a record start with January’s 24,706 passengers up 20 per cent on last January’s 20,549. Starting on Wednesday (12 February 2014) the number of passenger flights each day will change from 26 to 28, including having the larger ATR-72 planes coming to the airport six times a day instead of the current two. That will increase the number of available sets by 33 per cent – up from 1,076 seats to 1,616. The airport’s terminal building opened in 1964 and was designed for 60,000 passengers per year. The New Plymouth District Council is designing an extension of the terminal, with construction planned for 2015. The project is intended to have no rates input and to be covered by user charges.
