Chatham Islands / Tuuta Airport

Chatham Islands / Tuuta Airport is a small airport 10.5NM northeast of Waitangi Township on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand.The airport was completed in 1982 to replace an earlier built compacted grass airstrip at Te Hapupu that could only handle slow flying Safe Air Bristol Freighter aircraft. The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy immediately started operating to the islands using the new airport until 1990 when Mount Cook Airlines and later Air Chathams took over air services to and from mainland New Zealand.A small aviation museum is also based there, signifying the importance that aviation has played in developing the economic wealth of the island group.Air Chathams operate services to Auckland, to Christchurch, and to Wellington operating Convair 580 aircraft, on the following days; Monday: Chathams - Wellington, Tuesday: Chathams - Christchurch, Wednesday: Chathams - Wellington, Thursday: Chathams - Auckland, Friday: Chathams - Wellington, and seasonally Saturday: Chathams - Auckland.The airport is the base of Air Chathams and usually houses two aircraft overnight.Improvements proposedIn 2012 The New Zealand Government announced plans to develop the airport as part of an overall Economic Plan for the Chatham Islands. Proposals include and extension out to 1600m and resurfacing of the runway. A new passenger and administration terminal is also planned along with a larger apron area and a new large aircraft hangar.