14 | Upgrades to enhance experience The airport’s landside access and car park project comprises the redesign and upgrading of virtually everything in front of the terminal. T T from page 12 Dunedin Airport REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Landing big at Dunedin Airport! Downer is proud to be the main contractor for Dunedin International Airport’s latest works. Scan the QR code to check out all of Downer’s Airport work! 0212168252 | sales@allcor.co.nz | www.allcor.co.nz F A B R I C A T I O N NEW BUILDS • RENOVATIONS • NEW BATHROOMS • NEW KITCHENS • DECKS Building from the ground up to extensions and more, Allcor Fabrication can help you with you residential construction needs. All the existing halogen on-airport apron, taxiway and runway lighting will be replaced with LEDs, which from a sustainability perspective is a huge benefit, resulting in about 80% power saving. “But also, the lifetime of the components is so much greater, so the operating costs reduces dramatically and positions the airport for the next 25 years,” Nick says. Of particular benefit to travellers will be the airport’s landside access and car park project, which comprises the redesign and upgrading of virtually everything in front of the terminal, from Momona village to the terminal doors. “This will see the replacement of landscaping, street lights, changes to the car park layout, parking technology, the signage, everything with the goal to create a more efficient, safer landside, as well as being more appropriate to peoples’ first impression of Dunedin and Otago.” An important aspect of this is to emphasise the airport’s landside connection to the rural landscape and the Maungatua Range, which contrasts with many other New Zealand airports that are closely connected to cities, Nick says. “We want to celebrate that.” There is plenty more for the airport’s management and staff to celebrate, too. In partnership with Jetstar, a direct connection to Gold Coast, Australia will start on June 24 this year. Dunedin Airport chief executive Daniel De Bono describes the work involved to re-establish international flights and the Gold Coast service as a true partnership with Jetstar. Considerable research and due diligence was required to assess if the service would be viable among a catchment assessed at around 300,000 people in the wider region, including Waitaki, parts of Southland and inland Otago, Daniel says. “We were engaging with Airbus in France and other partners and Jetstar about the realities and economics of running a service like that, and looking at what the demand was going to be, what the average airfare might look like, to see where it stacks up.” To date, bookings have been strong. “As it sits now, it’s in line with where we thought it would be, in fact, slightly ahead. We are stoked. To actually get the deal done and then see it performing as it is now, it’s awesome.” Dunedin Airport is actively working to promote the region, partnering with other agencies, authorities and airports “to ensure everyone knows what we do”. “The lower South Island is a truly stunning part of the world,” says Nick. “We are working hard to ensure more people visit this diverse area, while remaining focused on our sustainability goals.” These goals include reducing waste to landfill each year, lightening its carbon footprint, and supporting the restoration of the environment.
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