Eastland Group celebrates 10 years at Gisborne Airport

Eastland Group marked its tenth anniversary of the operation of Gisborne Airport yesterday with a small gathering of customers, staff and airport-based businesses and club.

The Gisborne-based company, whose business interests include Eastland Network and Eastland Port, has been operating the airport since 1 April 2005, on lease from Gisborne District Council.

Since that time, Gisborne District Council has remained the asset owner, but Eastland Group has operated, managed and developing the airport.

Last night, Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd told guests that in 2005, Gisborne Airport was costing Gisborne ratepayers money.

“Today Gisborne Airport makes a small profit and is able to commercially stand on its own feet.

“I am proud to be leading the company which has not only taken care of Gisborne Airport over the past decade, but has actively worked to improve it.”

He said by November 2005, visitors were greeted by the smell of roasted coffee and tasty snacks from the airport’s new café, V2. The café makeover was enhanced by the replacement of terminal windows and new interior directional signage, as well as subsequent improvements to the airport carpark including the installation of a camera system, barriers and lighting designed to provide additional security for customers parking cars overnight.

A growing demand for privately owned aircraft saw two new hangars built at Gisborne Airport in 2007, and in 2009, Gisborne Airport flourished in line with Eastland Group’s development plans, with the completion of the La Vista commercial warehouse property development in Darton Park, the attainment of Airport Authority status for Gisborne Airport, the successful RNZAF training camp Exercise Wise Owl in August and the annual New Zealand Tiger Moth flyover at Labour Weekend.

In 2011, the carpark was again expanded and improved in response to public demand and in accordance with Eastland Group’s desire to improve traffic flows. A second gate and 50 additional carparks were added as part of the $350,000 project, bringing the total number of carparks at the airport to 107.

Last year, a new fit-for-purpose hangar for the Eastland Rescue Helicopter was completed, funded from the generosity of our community, with the airport contributing to the infrastructure requirements for this facility.

Mr Todd said the past few years had been profitable for the airport business as a whole. “But there has been a shift in the aircraft fleet servicing the district with a greater number of 50 seat Q300 planes being used by Air New Zealand, resulting in a decline in the 19 seat Beech 1900s.

“This is primarily due to the age and expense of operating these aircraft and their staged retirement from service by Air New Zealand, so it’s a trend we expect to continue.”

Overall the change has resulted in a decrease in total landings at the airport with 15,897 aircraft movements (take-offs and landings) in the 12 months to 31 March 2015.

“The upside is that the bigger planes are nicer to fly on and there is generally a greater availability of cheaper fares.”

Following lengthy consultation with Air New Zealand, an increase in landing fees was introduced from 1 December 2012.

“These were the first landing fee increases in well over ten years,” said Mr Todd.

“The additional revenue has contributed to a number of important capital projects including last month’s resealing of the central 30-metre wide section of the airport’s 1310-metre main runway.”

The $2.5 million runway project was awarded to Downer after a tender process, with work taking place at night to minimise disruption, and involved more than 40,000 square metres of asphalt being laid.

Over the ten years Eastland Group has invested over $5 million in capital projects as well as paying Gisborne District Council more than $1 million in rent.

Mr Todd said Eastland Group was committed to continuing to invest in Gisborne Airport in order to meet projected customer demand and grow the regional economy.

ENDS

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