Our airport has a rich and colourful history.
From its birth on reclaimed land, gifted from the 1931 Earthquake to the modern award-winning building you see today, Hawke’s Bay Airport has a fantastic story to tell.
Every year our airport facilitates around 20,000 aircraft movements from commercial airlines and the general aviation community, and in 2023, passenger numbers rebounded to 640,000 after several years of pandemic impact.
To explore more of the colourful history of our airport in ‘Wings over Hawke’s Bay’ by Michael Fowler. Copies are available to purchase for $59.99 at Bellatino’s Aeroporto at the airport, or the Art Deco Shop in Napier.
Napier Aero Club
In January 1931, the Napier Aero Club was formed and acquired land for an aerodrome in Riverbend Road. However, the February 1931 earthquake would allow for an aerodrome to be created on the newly uplifted Ahuriri lagoon land. The first take-off and landing on this land occurred on May 17, 1931 ‒ a pivotal event in Napier’s aviation history.
Embankment Aerodrome opens
In 1932, Napier Aero Club raised £2000 (2023:$271,000) to create the Embankment Aerodrome on 105 acres (42ha) of newly formed land. Its grand opening, featuring a carnival with aerial stunts, attracted about 10,000 spectators.
Jean Batten flies into Napier Embankment Aerodrome
On 8 August 1934, New Zealand’s most famous aviatrix, Jean Batten, landed at the Aerodrome, calling it one of the best in New Zealand. Her visit, like the of Charles Kingsford-Smith the year before, fuelled interest in aviation in Hawke’s Bay.
East Coast Airways launched
Gisborne-based East Coast Airways was formed in 1934, purchasing two de Havilland DH-84 Dragon aircrafts, carrying up to 10 passengers each, servicing a route between Gisborne and Napier. It was one hour flying time and a fare of £2 ($299) one way and £3 ($448) return.
Beacons Aerodrome
The Beacons aerodrome came about unexpectedly on 7 July 1935, when fog at the Embankment aerodrome led an East Coast Airways pilot to land to its north. This area later became known as ‘The Beacons’ after the 1907 shipping navigational aids located there. By September, East Coast Airways were using this new site, with an old Napier tramcar as a makeshift terminal.
First terminal built
With the aerodrome settled at the Beacons, the operator, Napier Borough Council, replaced the tramcar with a properly built passenger terminal and administration block. This meant the Beacons could be called an airport rather than an aerodrome.
World War Two
During World War Two, the Royal New Zealand Air Force requisitioned passenger planes, including those from aero-clubs. Union Airways' two Dragons, Tui and Huia, were taken and never returned to Napier. Tui was decommissioned due to war damage, and Huia, sold to Air Travel New Zealand ‒ which tragically crashed in heavy fog in 1944, resulting in two fatalities.
National Airways Corporation (NAC)
In 1946, the Labour government established the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) to nationalise domestic aviation. By September 1947, NAC took over Union Airways and Air Travel (New Zealand Ltd). A control tower was added to the Beacons terminal in 1947.
Second terminal built
In November 1959 a new airport terminal was built at the Beacons to cater for increased passenger and air freight traffic. This followed debates between Napier and Hastings Councils about the airport's location, concluding that two major airports within 15 miles (24km) of each other was economically impractical.
Runway sealed
In January 1963, construction began on an 83,612 square metre sealed runway. Despite challenges such as earthmovers stuck in mud, and installing 2,743 metre of stormwater pipes, the main runway was completed by October 1963.
Hawke’s Bay Airport opens
The Hawke’s Bay Airport officially opened on February 15, 1964, after extensive regional debates about its location. The opening included a two-hour pageant with a Vampire aircraft aerial display. Plans for terminal expansion and a larger car park were announced later that year.
Napier Airport Drag Races
In March 1972 and April 1973, an unusual event drew large crowds to Hawke’s Bay Airport, not for a flight but for drag races on the runway. This event attracted large crowds and featured dragsters, hot rods, and modified cars. With no flights scheduled on Sunday mornings, races ran from 8 am to 11:30 am, leaving time to ready the runway for afternoon flights.
Major runway reseal
In November 1974 the whole runway was resealed, leading to a two-day closure of the airport and the cancellation of 23 flights. The Bitumen sealing took place during the day and rolling and sweeping at night which was planned over the full moon to save costs on lighting the area! During strong westerly winds the runway couldn’t be used by smaller aircraft, so in 1986 the 600m cross runway was also sealed.
New airport terminal
June 2003 marked a significant upgrade for the Hawke’s Bay Airport with the construction of a spacious new terminal, designed to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic which had reached 370,000 in the previous year. A new control tower, built in 2002, was relocated to make way for this more expansive terminal.
Hawke’s Bay Airport Ltd formed
After three years of negotiations, a new corporate entity for the airport was established on July 1, 2009. This company's ownership was divided with the Crown holding 50%, Hastings District Council 24%, and Napier City Council 26%.
Runway extended to 1750m
After much public-spirited discussion, in June 2010 the airport’s runway was extended from 1310m to 1750m, making the runway jet-capable.
Airport ambassador programme begins
In 2019, the Airport Ambassador Programme was introduced, recruiting thirty-five volunteers. These friendly faces welcome visitors to Hawke's Bay and assist with wayfinding and help with any enquiries. In 2024, we have 28 volunteers, all of whom are the original members who signed up.
New airport terminal opens
Following Covid-19 delays, a vibrant new terminal opened in August 2021, driven by a need for a modern airport and strong passengers numbers. Designed in collaboration with Designgroup Stapleton Elliot and Mauvan Scott Architects, the form of the building is inspired by the kuaka, a native bird that returns from Alaska to the nearby wetlands every year. A series of carved wooden ceiling panels tell the cultural stories of Te Matau-a Maui (Hawke’s Bay).
New Airport forecourt completed
In November 2022 the new forecourt was opened - the final touch for the airport’s new terminal. The forecourt was designed by artist Jacob Scott and the cultural designs of the space link to the stories carved within the terminal. The forecourt features carved pou and canopy panels, native planting, and streetscape design.
The new airport design has won multiple awards (link to sustanaibility page) including NZ Airports Association ‘Medium Airport of the Year’ for 2022/2023 and for its industry leading sustainability initiatives.
We welcome Sunair to the Bay
While Air New Zealand provides regular direct flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from our airport, we recently welcomed Sunair Aviation to our terminal in June 26, 2023, connecting Napier to Wairoa and Gisborne with two daily return flights between each region offered with six passenger capacity. Cyclone road recovery between the regions still under heavy construction, so the service is a vital link between the regions
for many.