An Airport in Demand
For more than 50 years since opening in 1964, Rotorua Airport has been a gateway to the region with daily, direct services to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The Airport has changed dramatically from the 1378m runway which was initially built to accommodate the aircraft of the time, including DC-3s and Fokker F27 planes to the current runway which can accommodate regular services, jets and international charter flights.
The number of passengers using Rotorua Airport is increasing and this year it will surpass 250,000 travellers. The increased demand, together with changing security regulations and the desire to create a facility Rotorua can be proud of, have driven the need to redevelop our terminal.
Our history
Air Scouts at opening of new Rotorua Airport 1964. Published in Rotorua Photo News, Oct 24th edition, Photographer Michael Burton.
October 2, 1964
A crowd of about 10,000 turn out for the official opening of the airport by Prime minister Keith Holyoake
1968
NAC starts flying into Rotorua Airport
1970
Royal visit by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne, who were holidaying at Moose Lodge on Lake Rotoiti
1972
Mount Cook Airlines, which had operated between Rotorua and Mt Cook, gets approval to fly between Rotorua and Auckland
1973
Last DC3 flies into Rotorua
1974
Extension to increase the terminal and two new aircraft parking pads
1977
Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive in Rotorua on the VIP Friendship, accompanied by RNZAF Iroquois helicopters
1977
Jean Batten visits Rotorua
1978
Air Central Ltd begins flights between Rotorua and Napier and Rotorua and New Plymouth
Daughter of the skies - Jean Batten
2004
New terminal commissioned
2005
Terminal upgrade including increased aviation security finished
2008
Southern terminal extension completed
2015
11,000 turn out to 50th anniversary open day
2009
Transtasman flights to Sydney begin from Rotorua Airport
2014
Transtasman flights from Rotorua Airport finish
2018
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at Rotorua Airport as part of their Australasian tour
2019
Rotorua Airport undergoes terminal upgrade underway to address seismic issues, and cater for increasing growth
ROTORUA AIRPORT
P: +64 7 345 8800
E: talk2us@rotorua-airport.co.nz
State Highway 30,
Rotorua, New Zealand
Open Hours for Terminal:
6.30am - 8.30pm 7 days a week
FOLLOW ROTORUA AIRPORT
DEVELOPMENT
Master Plan
New Terminal
CORPORATE
About Us
Community
Contact Us
Events
Feedback
History
Mana Whenua
Media Centre
News
Our People
Sustainability
COMMERCIAL
Advertising
Airfield Community
Airfield Operations
Charter Flights
Do Business
Future Developments
General Aviation
Landing Charges
Noise Management
Safety Portal