In their joint report, Chairman Derek Walker and CEO Garry Goodman say that the net after-tax surplus of $141,510 is also 23% down on budget.

The 211,614 passengers using the airport in the six month period is down 6.8% on last year.

Their report states "In an effort to respond to the current environment, a range of capital works have been held back and $1.1m of bank debt has been repaid."

Good progress has been made on providing runway end safety area improvements as the Board and management maintain strategies and activity to attract a carrier willing to re-establish international services.

The Interim Report is available from the 'Corporate Info' page.

It promises to be a great day with flying displays, vintage cars, hot air balloons, plane rides, airforce on show, model planes, clowns and more.

The airfield is on Campbell Road between Bunnythorpe and Feilding (the east side of the railway line).

The report summarises 2009 as a year of very weak long-haul travel, soft Holiday demand and very weak business activity. On the other hand, it was a year of very strong Australian arrivals, solid Visiting Friends and Family (VFR) activity, with an end of year rally (culminating with December being a record month with 341,337 arrivals into New Zealand).

Cinta Research conducted the survey on behalf of the airport company as part of an on-going review of customer satisfaction. The last survey was carried out two years ago.

90% of the respondents were 'very satisfied' or 'quite satisfied' with the airport's services and facilities. 98% felt that their visit to the airport, either as a traveller or as a 'greeter', had been 'relaxing and enjoyable'.

Airport chief executive Garry Goodman said that the interviews combined with regular customer feedback through 'Customer Care' cards and correspondence helped keep management in touch with customers needs.

"The results have confirmed areas that we need to work on, like signage and publicising the availability of information on the internet" he said.

However he was also heartened with feedback on the perception of taxi and shuttle services, the frontage drop-off area, and the rental car facilities. The introduction of licenced taxis at the airport three years ago and changes to the road layout at the front of the terminal were aimed at improving services.

Mr Goodman said the satisfaction with these three areas had made significant gains when compared with all previous customer surveys going back 8 years.

He said this was also reflected in the significantly reduced numbers of complaints now received about these services.

The Symposium is planned to coincide with the 60th Anniversary Conference of the Aviation Industry Association which will be held in Palmerston North during the week of 26-30 July 2010.

Brendon Deere of ITL Aviation says that in 2009 they began what they hope will be a lasting tradition of having the Spitfire fly over towns and cities in the local area as a commemoration of ANZAC Day.

Details of the flying schedule this year are still being finalised, however it is expected that after the flyovers, and subject to weather, this spectacular aircraft will land at Palmerston North at approximately 11am and will be on display for local veterans and the public to see up close.

Details on parking arrangements and access gates will be published closer to the time.

Despite seat availability during January being 22% down on last year, passenger numbers for the month have climbed.

Passengers for the twelve months ending 31 January 2010 total 415,006, down 10% on the same period a year ago.

In a ceremony at the airport, Malcolm Potts (right) and his family presented a thermos flask that Kingsford Smith had on the aircraft that day to Dennis O'Rourke, chairman of the Palmerston North branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. The Society have have custody of the trust's collection.

The glass inner of the thermos was broken when the plane's wheels sank into wet ground while taxiing after landing. The aircraft's wing was damaged, and one of the propellors was damaged in the incident.