Tag Archives: Hawke’s Bay Airport

Bumpy flight but Hawke’s Bay airport takes off

Posted on by
Reply

The path to getting to the major milestone has had more turbulence than a flight into Wellington on a stormy day, and as the airport’s chief executive Stuart Ainslie says, the adversity has created a more resilient airport as well as a stunning gateway to the Bay.

Stuart himself arrived to the role after the design plans and the terminal had been given the green light. He was appointed to the role after the sad passing of former chief executive Nick Story.

He arrived in March 2018 armed with an impressive international CV, including more than 16 years’ experience working in public and privately-owned hub and regional airports in the United Kingdom, Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

His last gig prior to jetting into Hawke’s Bay was as the executive general manager for Port Moresby International Airport, the main gateway into PNG,

where he led the terminal expansion in time for the 2015 Pacific Games and APEC 2018.

With this background, Stuart probably believed he had experienced most challenges that could come his way. However, nothing could prepare him for what was to unfold over the next three years.

“The vision back in 2018 was to create a vibrant airport and we’ve delivered that, but I never thought for a minute that we would be hit by three significant events in the process,” he says.

Firstly, the project was struck by the liquidation of its lead construction firm Arrow International in February 2019; followed by the exit of air carrier Jetstar Airways in late September; and in March 2020, the global pandemic of COVID-19 brought not only flying in and out of the airport to a halt but also the construction project.

“I didn’t sign up to that but in retrospect, with Arrow out of the picture, we were able to create an airport subsidiary company to act as the construction project lead, which has been hugely successful, supporting many local construction, supplier and consultant firms.

“If we had gone to market for another construction lead, there could have been a longer delay in getting the project back up and running and by the time COVID-19 hit, we would have run into other challenges. This way we had much more control.”

It also cast doubt on when the airport would ever return to the year-on-year record passenger capacity it was experiencing and the forecasted one million passengers a year by 2025.

Back in 2018, the airport posted a record turnover of $6.6 million and passenger numbers of 697,143; in 2019, passenger numbers had risen again to 750,357 but in March 2020, the world was turned upside down.

Passenger numbers fell to 541,087 and it could have been worse hit, yet Stuart and the board pushed forward with the expansion project, backed by the support of a $9 million loan facility (inclusive of a $2 million contingency) from shareholders the Crown, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council.

The loan facility gave the company the headroom it needed to continue the terminal construction and working capital to support the business through the COVID-19 recovery period.

Stuart says it’s a credit to the hard work of the airport team that the loan was never needed to be called upon.

“Financially we are in a different place than we forecasted due to COVID-19, which was a $1.5 million loss, and we’ve landed with a net profit of half a million dollars with revenue up six percent on last year, and that’s a great result since passenger numbers fell by 300,000.”

Stuart’s international experience also came to the fore early in his appointment when he asked the board to consider a review of the scope, scale and internal finishes of the terminal.

He did this without knowing of the turbulence ahead, basing his vision on his international experience.

“That review has created an airport that has ambience and we’ve partnered with Mana Ahuriri to create a strong cultural sense of place, which we have achieved in leaps and bounds and there’s more to come.

“The look and feel, offering and choice are night and day ahead of what the airport previously offered.”

Stuart admits that the $24.5 million terminal expansion took longer than hoped but the region has been rewarded with a magnificent gateway that celebrates the cultural significance of the Ahuriri area and the wider Hawke’s Bay region.

 

He says the finished product has been achieved thanks to a small but dedicated Hawke’s Bay Airport team as well as many dedicated local individuals and businesses that have taken immense pride in creating a new terminal.

“Our team has been living in a construction site for three years with reduced amenities but we all had a clear vision and it has come to fruition. We love seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they visit for the first time.

“The team, which is pretty lean, has gone through a lot of change and uncertainty and it has been a real test of their resilience and I’m very proud of them.”

Many other local businesses and individuals have played key roles in the development such as Lattey Group, Jacksons Flooring, Panton Plumbing, Red Steel and Mitre10 Mega, through to local treaty group Mana Ahuriri, who provided cultural input alongside well-known artist Jacob Scott.

The finishing touches including the forecourt are underway, again hit by supply challenges resulting from the second full COVID-19 lockdown. Most of the internal work is complete, with the external experience to be completed in time for summer visitors.

Visitors will arrive from the carpark and will enter the building under a timber waharoa (gateway) symbolising the beak of the kuaka that live nearby.

An expansive foyer leads to a central space that hosts new retail and hospitality spaces, including a Bay Espresso café and Roosters Brewery bar, which is flanked by the arrivals and departure lounges.

The central hospitality space features luxurious bathrooms and a large viewing mezzanine for friends and family to await their visitors. A children’s play area is planned and installations that tell Hawke’s Bay stories make this a destination visitors will want to spend time in.

Stuart says every effort has gone into making this a space local people will want to welcome their visitors to or arrive home to.

“We are most proud of the way we’ve been able to work with Jacob Scott, Mana Ahuriri and other key partners to tell our cultural and heritage stories throughout the space – but rather than describe them I’ll let visitors experience them for themselves when they visit. It’s simply stunning.”

Air New Zealand has invested heavily in a new regional lounge upstairs offering healthier food, more space and a dedicated café that caters for around 130 guests – almost double the seating capacity than the previous space.

Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty said the new lounge has been designed to further enhance the customer journey.

“We know our customers travel for a myriad of reasons: those travelling for business may want a quiet space to get some work done before flying; others to sit, relax and enjoy a pre-flight drink. This insight was at the heart of the new lounge design.

“Hawke’s Bay is proving a popular corner of the country, it’s the perfect time to open the doors and welcome customers to our new lounge space.”

As Stuart takes in the new terminal and reflects back on the past three years, he points to the cultural and aviation heritage that’s been captured as well as the region’s hallmarks for food and wine experiences.

He says there’s more to come, especially in how the airport promotes Hawke’s Bay’s food and wine in ways that travellers can enjoy and engage with

One surprising addition that has been welcomed by many is the old propeller that was dusted off by The Hawke’s Bay Aviation Heritage Association, who suggested that it be a feature of the terminal.

The original wooden propeller was from the first commercial flight into Napier. The plane, a 1930s De Havilland Dragon MK2 landed at the airport in 1935. It was then put into service in World War II in Fiji and the propeller is the only surviving piece .

Hawke’s Bay Airport and the Hawke’s Bay Aviation Heritage Association worked closely with George Williams from local company Blackdog Design on the concept and design for the display that houses this special artefact, creating a plywood installation that uses negative detailing to form line drawings of the De Havilland.

Cultural connection important for HB Airport

Posted on by
Reply

Visitors arriving to the redeveloped Hawke’s Bay Airport will be enveloped by a sense of place and a connection to the special character of the land the airport is based on in Ahuriri.

The airport is on schedule to celebrate the opening of the new terminal in February 2021, after a $20.2 million expansion project that has seen the terminal nearly triple in size.

Although there has been a couple of set backs, including COVID-19 lockdown, the final stages are now being completed with the centralized hospitality and commercial hub as well as the Air New Zealand lounge.

Local artist Jacob Scott, on behalf of local hapu Mana Ahuriri, has been involved in the project since its inception. He has been engaged to design the interior ceiling which when finished will connect visitors to the region and its people by telling the stories of the local area, Ahuriri and its connection to other places in the world.

The whakairo panel installation will form a part of the larger redevelopment project which incorporates further storytelling into other elements of the building’s structure including the outdoor entrance forecourt and the road entry works on Watchman Road.

Jacob says the airport is not only an active public space but serves as an airport that can project artistic ideas on a massive, public scale.

The artwork comprises over 250 plywood panels, approximately 180 running meters, carved using digital machining technology by Lattey Group in Hastings. The completed panels will be suspended above visitors as they enter and move through the airport terminal, forming a single continuous art installation through the interior of the terminal.

In working with local iwi to identify content for the designs, a decision to focus on ideas connected to the airport locality and purpose was made.

The inspiration for the design comes from the Kuaka, a native bird of the area and is a symbol of passage or voyage, of strength and endurance and of journeys and discovery as the Kuaka travels 29,00kms to Alaska and back each year. At the end of their journey the Kuaka feed in the estuary surrounding the airport and the birds provide a link to the world around us.

The fact that the birds travel this far to feed, in this place is significant and as Ngahiwi Tomoana, Chairman Ngāti Kahungunu says “the Kuaka make the longest flight of any man creature or even man-made plane without refueling. This little bird arrives with the wisdom of both worlds, both sides of the veil, that of the living, and that of where those who have passed on dwell”.

As a site of departure the airport is Hawke’s Bays connection with the wider world. It is a lift off point for connections made through trade, enterprise, social and cultural connections.

Jacob says the story has been ever- evolving since the initial concepts were developed prior to construction commencing. He says interwoven into the design is the formation of the land, which underwent significant change with the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.

Further inspiration has also been the impact of COVID-19, which impacted on the aviation sector grounding flights globally.

“There has been recent turmoil, but we are welcoming people back to Hawke’s Bay again and our people will also take flight and explore the world again, just like the kuaka. We can take flight and go anywhere and anyone will be able to come here from their place too.

Hawke’s Bay Airport chief executive Stuart Ainslie says the design brief was outlined in three key priorities; Express our unique regional identity, Uplift the profile of creative practice in the region and Improve visibility of creatives on a national and international level were identified.

“This project exemplifies how these aspirations are enacted and it will provide a unique setting that will welcome visitors on holiday and for business to the region.”

Hawke’s Bay Airport spreads its wings

Posted on by
Reply

The Hawke’s Bay airport has taken a step closer to its vision to be “New Zealand’s most vibrant and successful regional airport” with the opening of the new arrivals hall.

The new arrivals hall opened in early January with Araminta Wilson the first passenger to collect her bags from the new automated baggage system.

At the same time, the airport rolled out a team of airport ambassadors, who will welcome people to Hawke’s Bay and provide some guidance to navigate around the airport as well has helpful tips to enjoy their stay.

The carpark is also being reconfigured and new parking payment technology will be introduced as the airport aims to further improve the visitor experience and the New Zealand Transport Association’s new Watchman Road, including a new entrance to the airport.

Hawke’s Bay Airport chief executive Stuart Ainslie said progress on the $20.2 million airport redevelopment is on schedule, with stage 1 finished and Stage 2 already well underway.

“Completion of Stage 1 was a big milestone for the airport but there’s much more to come as a new-look airport becomes a gateway for the region that will be much more culturally connected.

As well as the new baggage reclaim system the arrivals hall also has vehicle rental kiosks and a pop up café.

The arrivals area will remain separate from the remainder of the existing terminal. Stage 2 construction is at the southern end includes a new check in area.

Stuart says the “big wow” of the redeveloped airport will not be realised until stage 3 of a centralised hospitality and commercial hub is completed in mid 2020.

“We are pretty much building a new terminal on part of site of the current terminal and increasing the footprint by 74 percent.

In August 2018 the Hawke’s Bay Airport company announced an upgrade to its terminal expansion due to a revised passenger forecast of 1 million passengers by 2025.

“We added another 500 square metres and revised the budget from $15.7m to $20.2m so that we could meet the anticipated growth as well as create additional retail and commercial offerings.

Changes to car parking are also needed due to the increase in passengers.

“The significant growth in passengers has had an obvious impact across the business, including a big increase in vehicle movements. This means that it is now unrealistic to always find a park in front of the terminal. However, in an effort to control congestion and optimise short stay capacity with close proximity, the airport will be actively enforcing the time limits on the P120 parks and ensuring that vehicles are not dwelling in the pick-up and drop off zone.”

He said new car parking payment technology will also be introduced and the airport is currently looking at options through a tender process.

Hawke’s Bay Airport sets date for stage 1 opening

Posted on by
Reply

The first stage of the $20.2 million Hawke’s Bay Airport expansion will be ready to welcome passengers to the region on January 15.

Hawke’s Bay Airport chief executive Stuart Ainslie said the finishing touches are being made to the new arrivals hall which will include the airport’s first automated baggage system that will have the capacity of 2.5 million bags/annum.

Mr Ainslie said stage 1 of 698m2 could have opened prior to Christmas, but with it being the airport’s busiest period, it is better to open in mid-January.

“We’re now doing the internal fit out, but it’s important that we don’t create any unnecessary stress at this time of the year for passengers, visitors and our commercial partners. The new arrivals area is in the new-build part of the airport which has enabled the current airport to operate smoothly without disruptions, so it’s best we continue as is.

“We can open when it’s a bit quieter and if there’s any problems we can resolve these without too much pressure,” Mr Ainslie said.

The airport recently announced a record turnover of $6.6 million and annual passenger numbers of 715,000, up 8 percent on a rolling year.

The continued growth and confidence enabled the terminal upgrade to be revised from 2500m2 to 4340m2, a 74% increase including new commercial/retail opportunities within the terminal at a budget of $20.2m.

“We have been able to finance the expansion from our strong balance sheet, which is a great position to be in.”

Mr Ainslie said along with the baggage reclaim system the new arrivals hall will incorporate rental car kiosks and a pop-up café.

The automated baggage system spans 14 metres in length and has the capacity for over 350 bags an hour. It can be modified into a T shape conveyor to increase capacity as the airport continues to grow.

There will be no direct access from the new arrival’s hall to the departures area of the terminal during the next stage of construction. While this is not ideal the distance between the two areas is not extensive and the airport is confident that passengers will be understanding of this temporary situation.

Mr Ainslie is also quick to point out that although it is very exciting to open the first stage of the terminal the “full wow” of the Airport Expansion Project will not be revealed until the redevelopment is complete in mid 2020.

“We have a fully operating airport that is being redeveloped in stages, which does build excitement and anticipation of what will be the final reveal in 2020 but at the same gives glimpses of what will be the end result.”

“We’re spreading the airports wings and we want to deliver a place that provides visitors with a true taste of Hawke’s Bay and we are working on some exciting projects which will help create something that showcases the best of what Hawke’s Bay has to offer whilst enhancing customer experience.”

The company has also commenced work on a 20 Year Airport Masterplan with a vision of being New Zealand’s most vibrant and successful regional airport and reaching 1 million passengers a year by 2025. The masterplan will include wide community and stakeholder consultation over the next 12 months.

Record turnover and passenger growth brings forward Airport Masterplan review

Posted on by
Reply

Passenger growth at Hawke’s Bay Airport continues to exceed expectations and has led to the company posting a record turnover of $6.6 million.

Year-on-year passenger growth is up 8 percent with 715,000 annual passengers for the rolling year through to October 2018. Net profit after tax of $1.4m, was slightly down on last year ($270,000) but was due to increased costs to comply with Civil Aviation Authority requirements, key staff appointments and costs associated with the terminal expansion.

Hawke’s Bay Airport Ltd chairman Tony Porter said the ongoing passenger growth and new revenue generating opportunities gave the company confidence in September to invest an additional $4.5m into upscaling the terminal redevelopment.

“There has been unprecedented growth for the airport company as we progressed a number of key infrastructure projects and several business development initiatives.

“Although there are many highlights, the year was marred by the tragic loss of chief executive Nick Story, who had battled illness for some time. Nick was a strategic thinker, a strong leader and well respected in the business community,” Mr Porter said.

The company has commenced work on a 20 Year Airport Masterplan with a vision of being New Zealand’s most vibrant and successful airport and reaching 1 million passengers a year by 2025.

The revised terminal from 2500m2 to 4340m2, a 74% increase including new commercial/retail opportunities within the terminal is budgeted at $20.2m. Stage 1 which will deliver the new arrivals hall including a new automated baggage area will open in mid December.

“We revised our passenger growth forecasts earlier this year and the ongoing growth gave us strong confidence to increase the terminal at this stage, rather than unnecessary rework and further capital expense shortly after opening our new terminal”

Mr Porter said the appointment of Stuart Ainslie as chief executive, with strong aviation industry experience in March was also a catalyst into the review of the terminal expansion and overall strategic direction.

“Stuart has a deep understanding of the aviation industry including experience in the  redevelopment of two international airports. He refocused the strategic direction which has led to a major revision to the terminal expansion.

Mr Ainslie said the full review of the strategic plan identified five key strategic areas – operations, commercial, property, partners and people that would now be a key focus.

“We’ve set our vision and a target of 1 million passengers by 2025 as well as a mission to enable safe, customer focussed and sustainable air transport services in and out of Hawke’s Bay.

“The strategic focus areas as well as the development of an Airport Masterplan will ensure that we deliver everything we’ve set out to achieve. The masterplan will include wide community and stakeholder consultation over the next 12 months.

Mr Ainslie also said that there is now a heightened awareness of the airport having a “sense of place” as well as committing to the development of an environmental management plan.

“The Airport is situated in a beautiful natural environment and we acknowledge the responsibility it bears to preserve this for future generations. We will also lift our level of engagement with our key stakeholders, business partners and the community.”

Mr Ainslie said the terminal upgrade is tracking to schedule, with stage 1 nearing completion and stage 2 already well underway. The terminal will be fully completed by second quarter of 2020.

“We are focussing on delivering a place that provides visitors with a true taste of Hawke’s Bay – and working on some exciting projects which will help create something that showcases the best of what Hawke’s Bay has to offer whilst enhancing customer experience.

Annual Result Key points

  • A new passenger growth record of 700,000 (now 715,000)
  • A 9% increase in revenue to $6.6m
  • Net Profit (after tax) of 1.4m (15% ahead of budget)
  • 35% increase in expenditure to $3m – due to increased costs in Civil Aviation Authority requirements, key staff appointments and costs relating to the terminal redevelopment
  • The company will pay a fully imputed dividend of $578,000 to shareholders – the Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and the Crown

Mr Ainslie said key management appointments have had a positive impact on the business and the delivery of services to passengers, commercial tenants and airline partners. Over the last 12 months Gareth Mentzer has been appointed as Operations Manager, Jeanette Yule as Chief Financial Officer and Stephanie Murphy as Airport Planner.

Strong passenger growth spurs Hawke’s Bay Airport Expansion upgrade

Posted on by
Reply

The Hawke’s Bay Airport terminal expansion has been given an upgrade, boosted by the latest passenger growth figures and the target of one million passengers by 2025.

Last September the airport announced a redevelopment of the airport terminal increasing its size from 2500m2 to 3800m2 to accommodate the growth in passenger movements and visitors to the airport.

Recently appointed Hawke’s Bay Airport chief executive Stuart Ainslie said that due to continued passenger growth, potential new revenue opportunities and future security screening requirements, an independent review recommended upscaling the terminal by a further 540m2.

“The airport has reported strong passenger growth and we’ve also set a target of reaching one million passengers a year by 2025. At the same time, we reviewed the proposed floorplan and amenities and have made some generous modifications.

“It’s important that we create a sense of place and that visitors get a true taste of Hawke’s Bay either by visually promoting the region within the terminal or via retail offerings of Hawke’s Bay products such as food and beverages (wine),” Stuart said.

The airport has experienced strong passenger growth with 652,000 passenger movements recorded in the financial year ending 30 June 2017. The current expansion plan was set to cater for up to 800,000 passengers, which it was initially forecasted to hit in 2024, but has since been revised to 2020.

In the last week Air New Zealand has announced an additional 12 one-way flights between Napier and Auckland, while Origin Air is introducing new flights from Napier to New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson.

Stuart has been in lead roles in the redevelopment of two international airports – Darwin, Australia and Port Morseby in Papua New Guinea. He commissioned a globally reputable airport planning consultancy Airbiz to review the existing terminal and apron design in relation to the current terminal construction plans.

“Based on the current ‘busy hour’ figures we are already at the anticipated capacity for when the redeveloped airport opens, so it’s important that we add additional floor space now.

The review also highlighted that the existing facility on opening will be constrained in three key areas – baggage makeup, commercial/passenger circulation space and Aviation Security, which is highly likely to become a regulatory requirement within the next 2 -3 years.

Stuart said the revised construction additions will lift the budget by $4.5m to $20.2m and push back the full terminal completion date to the second quarter of 2020. The increased investment, funded by Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited has been approved by current shareholders Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and the Crown.

Arrow International commenced the expansion construction in January this year and the first stage, the reconfigured arrivals hall will be completed and operational by late 2018.

Arrow International’s Central Region General Manager Chris Goldsbury, says the arrivals area would open as originally planned and that although the expansion had been upgraded, it didn’t create any inefficiencies.

“The team have made great progress so far. On many major construction projects you can expect variations and it’s far better to make the changes now, rather than towards the end. Arrow have been working very closely with airport staff, the project manager and sub-contractors, so it’s business as usual.”

Napier City Council mayor Bill Dalton said the council supports the additional expansion plans for the airport.

“There has been substantial growth in passenger numbers over recent years with Air New Zealand adding extra flights and increasing plane size and the arrival of Jetstar. We want to ensure that the airport has the capacity to meet continued growth predictions while at the same time being a welcoming and enjoyable gateway to the region,” he said.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said “this is an exciting project for Hawke’s Bay and we share the airport’s vision to create the best provincial airport in New Zealand.  The Hawke’s Bay Airport is being very proactive in meeting the future needs given the predicted passenger number growth and the overall growth of the region.  Hastings District Council is delighted to support the new expansion plans.”

Stuart said an airport masterplan is also underway, which will safeguard the airport into the future. It will also enable the realization of new development opportunities both commercially, increased capacity by incumbent airlines and new entrants.  The Master plan process will include a reasonable period for community and stakeholder engagement.

“Our vision is to be the most vibrant and successful regional airport in New Zealand. We are also very aware of our environmental role in Ahuriri and surrounding areas and it’s important that we have an active environmental management plan.

The terminal has been designed in the shape of a Kuaka (godwit) bird in flight by local architects PMA with supporting design inspiration from local artist and Mana Ahuriri representative Jacob Scott.

“It’s important that we incorporate a strong sense of place with reference to the Kuaka and reflecting the Gateway Te Hau- Te Waharoa and Mana Ahuriri and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi aspirations.

The terminal when complete will be 74 percent larger than the existing footprint and will include new airline check in areas, an automated baggage handling system, a dedicated arrivals gate, a central hospitality and retail area; new bathrooms, airline offices and an expanded Air New Zealand regional lounge. The rental car concierge area will also be relocated within the terminal.

The new entranceway to the airport at the intersection of Watchman Road, SH2 and Meeanee Quay is also close to completion and is due to open by the end of September 2018.

 

 

 

ORIGINAIR to fly from Napier to New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson

Posted on by
Reply

Nelson based airline Originair will introduce services from Napier commencing September 28th, direct to New Plymouth and Palmerston North and via these cities onto Nelson.

The airlines Managing Director, Robert Inglis, said that “the airline has been operating from Nelson to Palmerston North for the past three years and to New Plymouth for a year and adding services to Hawke’s Bay was a natural extension”.

“The company appreciated the passenger support received to date and whilst these services are not extensive, they do offer Hawke’s Bay travelers another choice” Mr. Inglis said.

Hawke’s Bay airport CEO, Stuart Ainslie, said in support “We are pleased to welcome Originair to Napier from September. Over the last three years we’ve seen significant growth of over 45% in passenger numbers mainly across the main city connections. It’s important to us that we work with airline partners to grow regional connectivity across the domestic network offering more choice and flexibility. Congratulations to Originair and we look forward to supporting further growth on new routes”.

The airline will operate direct services from Napier to New Plymouth at 4:00pm each Friday and Sunday to offer weekend travelers an easy option when visiting New Plymouth. Direct services from New Plymouth to Napier will also depart on these days at 2:10pm.

The airlines Marketing Manager, Holly Parata, said she believed “the direct 45-minute flights will offer a significant time and cost saving for travelers as it avoids transiting via Auckland or Wellington”. These Friday and Sunday services to New Plymouth also connect onto the airlines New Plymouth services direct to Nelson at 5:20pm.

Flights will also operate direct from Napier to Palmerston North at 11:10 each Monday and 4:00pm on Wednesdays, with an easy connection onto Originair’s direct flights to Nelson.

The company will continue to use its British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft for this new service.

For more details regarding flight times and fares visit the Originair website: originair.nz.

High Flying Scot ready to take airport into new era

Posted on by
Reply

The Hawke’s Bay Airport has a new chief executive. Stuart Ainslie, a Scot, who brings a wealth of experience within the aviation sector and he’s arrived with fresh eyes and ideas on how to further establish the airport as the gateway to the region.

Where are you from?

I was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, which was the original capital seat of Scotland in the mid 11th century. Its also famous for being the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish- American industrialist, business magnate and philanthropist believed to have been one of the world’s richest men at that point.

My wife Elaine and three children were all born in Scotland but I seem to be the only one left with a thick Scottish accent, something I’m deeply proud of. They say that you can take the boy out of Scotland, but you cannae take Scotland oot the boy’.

Where did you study?

I didn’t follow a conventional path towards university. I left school in 1988 aged 16 and completed an electrical apprenticeship that led into some junior management roles at Rosyth Royal Dockyard, working for Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd (BRDL). At 21, I was given the opportunity to take on a supervision role with responsibility for around 20 men, all much older and experienced than me. I was then given the

opportunity to study for a Bachelor of Science degree at Glasgow Caledonian University and subsequently went on to complete a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters in Maintenance Management. In 2010 I completed a one-year professional management course with University of Adelaide.

Tell us about your career path?

I spent 12 years with BRDL at Rosyth Dockyard in various project management roles, after which point I knew it was time to move on. I always had a hankering towards change and transformation so I decided to leave for new challenges.

In 2000 I entered into airports for the first time. I was asked by one of the facilities service providers who worked for Babcock if I’d like to do some consulting at Edinburgh Airport to help them develop their asset management system. Within a few months I was part of Edinburgh Airport’s senior management team, employed by British Airports Authority (BAA) as their facilities/engineering manager. In 2005 I relocated to London Gatwick and was employed as head of airside engineering responsible for over 250 people and

the upkeep of the world’s busiest single runway in the world. The plan was to stay at Gatwick for a while but after a family holiday to Australia, my wife and I vowed to return one day to live. In 2006 an opportunity arose to help NT Airports in Darwin with delivering their $45 million capital plan. I led Darwin Airport’s master-planning process, a $60 million terminal development as well as a challenging two-year airline pricing negotiation with the major Australian airlines.

I left the role in 2010 and ended up as the executive general manager for the NT’s leading mechanical services provider for 12 months. Following this period, I decided to establish my own aviation consultancy business, which I ran until late 2017. In late 2014 I relocated the family to Cairns as it was closer to Papau New Guinea, where I was working back and forth.

The start 2014 to end 2016, I was the executive general manager for Port Moresby International in Papau New Guinea. During 2017 I was engaged by APEC Authority in Papau New Guinea to assist with the air movement planning for Leaders’ Week in November 2018.

What have been some of the highlights?

Working across airports from 500,000 pax per annum to 33 million pax per annum has been highly rewarding. Working for a company like BAA exposed me to all aspects of the airport business, from strategic planning one day to crisis management the next.

Although it was a politically tough environment I truly enjoyed being able to lead the transformation of Port Moresby Airport, getting the team fit for the Pacific Games in 2015 and delivering a $90 million international terminal expansion with new check-in, security, border control and retail experience, including a sizable duty-free store. Most recently I was preparing airport infrastructure advice directly for Peter O’Neill, the Prime Minister of Papau New Guinea, as part of the APEC planning requirements. Something I have lots of stories to tell that might be better in a book

What attracted you to the Hawke’s Bay Airport role?

After spending a significant amount of time away from home for work, my wife and I decided that it was time for a new outlook and towards the end of October we decided to target New Zealand. After 12 years in Australia we both knew we were ready for a change.

For a few years I had aspired to an airport CEO role but a few opportunities passed me by. In December 2017 I saw the position advertised and thought it was a fantastic career step in a great place to live and explore.

Although Hawke’s Bay Airport is a much smaller airport than I’ve been used to, there are a lot of opportunities to transform the business and lead the way forward.

Although you’re only just getting your feet under the desk, what do you see as some short-term changes/ improvements?

Firstly, I’ve inherited a terminal expansion project and I want to ensure we deliver absolutely the best capacity and customer experience from the development.

As we are working in a live environment the construction staging through the life of the project will generate some significant challenges. I’m keen to ensure that all of our passengers experience minimal disruption and we deliver an end result that exceeds expectations. Regular travelers should look forward to improvements that will deliver more space, improved baggage collection and a better retail experience.

In addition to this we finalising some key road infrastructure to connect the Watchman Road development to the airport, which is an important development in relation to our aspirations for the business park development and exit/entry statement to the airport.

You’ve adopted a terminal upgrade – will you be keeping it as status quo or will you be recommending any modifications?

That’s a great question and there is a possibility that we will make some minor modifications to the design but these will most likely be around the layout of some of the common use spaces and perhaps the retail, food and beverage offerings.

Do you see any new airlines coming to Hawke’s Bay or any new routes in and out of Hawke’s Bay?

Another great question and early days to give a definitive answer; that said we have already started discussing the potential for increases in capacity from existing airlines and exploring a potential fourth carrier. The development of new routes is a two-way street and my philosophy is we don’t sit and wait on airlines coming to us, we’ll aim to work smarter to understand the opportunities that exist and work in partnership with the airlines to develop new routes where it is economically viable.

There is also the possibility that in the near future we may start to see a few larger aircraft, but that comes with some challenges around supporting infrastructure. We’ve started to understand some of these challenges so that we have the right plans in place to accommodate this in the future.

What did you know about Hawke’s Bay before your arrival?

Believe it or not my wife and I hadn’t even visited New Zealand before I was invited to interview for the position but we had it on our to-do list. The first things we really became aware of was the wine industry, the history of Napier’s reconstruction and the great cycling tracks.

I was here during Art Deco Weekend so I was able to experience that first hand. I loved the buzz, and everyone seemed to be really enjoying it.

How well does the airport connect with the community?

I believe we have great linkage to the community around us, perhaps more than I’ve seen in other airports. We have a number of forums where the locals are engaged in helping us to understand where we can improve. In particular, the wetland surrounds and local environment are a source of pride and we are committed to working with the community to maintain this.

Over the next year we’ll be reviewing our masterplan and also developing an environmental strategy that will give us a better opportunity to work closely with the local community.

What are you looking forward to about residing in Hawke’s Bay?

I love the diversity of the landscapes that I’ve seen in the Hawke’s Bay region. I’m looking forward to enjoying the climate, exploring the area and enjoying some of the great food and wine from the region. We enjoy a well brewed cup of coffee and there is a great café culture so that’s a good start.

What do you do in your spare time?

My wife and I love getting out and exploring the outdoors. We’ll need to dust off the mountain bikes and we’re also keen to get into some sea kayaking. Other than that, I play guitar and another instrument but as I’m from Scotland originally I’ll leave you to guess that one… I don’t think the neighbours will appreciate it too much.

Airport Expansion takes off

Posted on by
Reply

A major redevelopment of the Hawke’s Bay Airport is underway that will ensure the terminal is fit for purpose after a 37 percent increase in passengers over the last two years.

The airport is flying high at the moment, having reported a record net profit of $1.7m on a turnover of $6.1 million for the year ended June 2017. The Airport Company achieved all its financial performance targets, with revenue up 16 percent from the previous year.

Construction will be in full swing over summer, with a temporary arrivals hall being set up in the area formally used for rental car parking to enable a new arrivals area to be built at the southern end of the terminal.

Hawke’s Bay Airport chief executive Nick Story says strong passenger growth and the resulting demands on existing airport infrastructure is the catalyst for the multimillion-dollar expansion. In the last two years passenger movements have risen 37 per cent to 652,000 passengers.

There was an 11 percent increase in aircraft movements for the year with a total of 14,256.

“We have had exponential growth over the last couple of years due to a significant increase in airline capacity, driven by the arrival of a second airline in Jetstar and Air New Zealand switching to larger capacity aircrafts, all of which has created competition for passengers and enabled growth of the region’s business and tourism sectors.”

The expanded terminal will increase in size from 2,500 m2 to 3,800 m2 to accommodate the growth in passenger movements and visitors to the airport.

“The airport is a major gateway for the region, so as well as catering for increased passengers and visitors, the expansion is also about enhancing their experience,” Nick says.

As The Profit was going to print, the lead construction contractor was due to be confimed. A local project manager, Steve Birkhead, has been involved through the final design stages of the project and will continue in this role through to the terminal being fully operational in early 2019.

The staged construction project will see the new check-in area constructed at the southern end of the terminal, followed by a central area with a large cafe accommodating 110 people, visitor seating and new bathrooms.

Stage 3 will be a new automated baggage handling system at the northern end, a dedicated arrivals gate, new offices for Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Sound Air, as well as a substantially expanded Air New Zealand regional lounge and rental car concierge area.

During construction Air New Zealand will relocate its regional lounge to a pre-fabricated building to be situated in the current staff car park area.

“We are aiming to keep the airport operating on a business as usual basis. There will be disruptions but our aim is to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

“We will have something exciting to look forward to in 2019, a larger, more functional and vibrant terminal.”

Nick says the design enables future growth with the majority of the complex design elements in the centre of the building, making additional expansion to the north simple and cost-efficient.

The project is to be internally funded by Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited, enabled by the airport company’s strong financial performance, and will not require any financial support from current shareholders Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and the Crown.

The new-look terminal has been designed by local architects Paris Magdalinos Architects. PMA architect Chris Ainsworth said the terminal has been designed in the shape of a Kuaka (godwit) bird in flight.

“A key consideration of the brief was to tell the story of the Hawke’s Bay area, which had to be integrated into the building’s architecture and not simply applied later on by using artwork. It is important to tell our story, in what is one of the key gateways into the Hawke’s Bay.

“The Kuaka achieves some amazing feats, flying over 8,000 kilometres every year to Alaska, which is pretty incredible for such a small bird,” says Chris.

The Kuaka-inspired shape will be further showcased inside the terminal using a modern approach to traditional Maori carving.

A new entranceway to the airport is also progressing well and under development at the intersection of Watchman Road, SH2 and Meeanee Quay. This project will be completed by August 2018.

Watch video announcement here