Chatham Islands / Tuuta Airport

Chatham Islands / Tuuta Airport (IATA: CHT, ICAO: NZCI) is an airport 10.5 nautical miles (19.4 km; 12.1 mi) northeast of Waitangi Township on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand.

Chatham Islands Tuuta Airport
The airport terminal
IATA: CHT ICAO: NZCI
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust, Inc[1]
Operator	Chatham Islands Airport Limited
Location	Waitangi, Chatham Islands
Elevation AMSL	43 ft / 13 m
Coordinates	43°48′36″S 176°27′26″W
Map
CHT Location on Chatham Island
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 1,850 6,070 Bitumen
Sources: New Zealand AIP[2]

The airport, in part named in honour of the Chatham islander, Inia William Tuuta, who gifted the land for the airport,^[3] was completed in 1982 to replace a 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 operates services to Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. The airport is the base of Air Chathams and usually houses two aircraft overnight.

Improvements proposed

In November 2024 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 5250 feet (1600 metres) 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.^[4]

In the first week of October 2024, the airport welcomed its first jet aircraft after a 490m extension of its existing runway (extended from 1360m to 1850m and made 45m wider) and strengthening work. A TEXEL Air Boeing 737 BCF cargo plane landed at the airport, marking a new era for the community. The project was part of a $42m Government-funded project aimed at the island's connectivity and resilience and enhancing economic development opportunities.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/chatham-islands-enters-the-jet-age-with-landing-of-first-boeing-737/57E3NJ4XHJHGVKBHR24NRNL3AE/

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Air Chathams	Auckland, Christchurch, Pitt Island, Wellington

References

1. "Shareholdings". Business.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
2. Chatham Island/Tuuta Airport chart
3. "NZ Topo Map". Retrieved 5 February 2018.
4. Stuff.co.nz | Prime Minister Visits Chatham Islands, Sept'12