• 542,816 passengers during the year ended 31 December 2006 (461,542 domestic and 81,274 international)

• Palmerston North International Airport is identified as NZPM and PMR

• 700 Scheduled flights per month operated by six commercial airlines

• Air Traffic Control Services provided by Airways Corporation of New Zealand

• The airport is only 5 Kilometres north-east of the City central area

• The main runway has a strength (Load Classification Number) of 48 designed for Boeing 737 aircraft

• The main apron has stands for nine commercial aircraft

• Carpark has capacity for 633 cars (as at March 2007)

• Milson Aerodrome Society Incorporated first established the airfield in 1931

• Union Airways commenced the first commercial air services at Palmerston North in 1936 (See the display on the Union Airways Gallery)

• National Airways Corporation introduced scheduled jet services with the Boeing 737 aircraft in December 1975, and the first Boeing 767 to use the airport landed on 10 March 2003

• New Terminal building commenced operation on Saturday, 14 December 1991. A $3 million project funded in part by a $3 Departure Charge, and became part of a $5 departure Development Levy from 1 August 2003

• International flights commenced 27 April 1996 with the introduction of Freedom Air International trans-Tasman services

• Duty Free shopping for all international arrival and departure flights

• Currency exchange open during processing of all international departures

• The main runway was extended in length from 1,522m to 1,902m in May 1998. Scheduled services direct to Australia commenced June 1998

• The Airport Master Plan provides for industrial site development and new roading access from John F Kennedy Drive through to Railway Road

• Central location for freight and mail distribution

• Very good weather characteristics for aviation

• Seven days a week, 24 hours a day operation

• World record set for 'Towing a Boeing' on 17 May 1998

• Development to accommodate increased international services from 16 December 1999

  
  Opening day Sunday 19 December 1999 saw the first flight to Melbourne and the first time the new Arrivals Hall was used. The new Terminal extensions were officially opened on Sunday 11 June 2000 by 12 Mayors of the districts served.

More Fast Facts