Parallel taxiway at Whanganui Airport to enhance safety and efficiency

Published on 08 May 2025

Work is now underway on the construction of a new sealed parallel taxiway at Whanganui Airport – a major infrastructure project designed to significantly enhance the airport's safety, operational efficiency and future capacity.

Following a site blessing held in late March, civil infrastructure specialists Fulton Hogan began project construction, which is expected to be completed by September 2025.

The need for a parallel taxiway has been driven by long-standing safety concerns at Whanganui Airport, particularly the requirement for aircraft to backtrack on the active runway. This results in aircraft occupying the runway for longer periods, creating unnecessary risks and operational delays.

A comprehensive aeronautical study undertaken in 2019, at the direction of the Civil Aviation Authority, identified the need for a parallel taxiway to improve safety, highlighting the increasing number of aircraft movements (now exceeding 65,000 per year) as a major operational risk.

The CAA reviewed the study's findings and endorsed in principle the construction of the taxiway as a necessary and effective mitigation. This recommendation has been central to advancing the project and reinforces its status as a critical safety upgrade, not an optional enhancement.

The new parallel taxiway will:

• allow aircraft to access the thresholds (beginning of the useable landing areas) of the runway, reducing the need to backtrack along the active runway
• minimise aircraft movements on the aircraft parking apron, reducing potential conflict between aircraft, passengers and airport staff
• provide a 24/7, all-weather taxiway, improving resilience and reducing wear-and-tear on the remaining grass taxiways.

The total cost to deliver the full-length parallel taxiway is estimated at $7.2 million. Whanganui District Council initially anticipated this would be co-funded with the Ministry of Transport, as was the case for the successful runway resealing project completed in 2023. However, in 2024 the Ministry advised that it could not commit funding due to limitations in its current multi-year appropriation and differing views on project priority.

In response, the council has adopted a phased approach to ensure progress continues:

• $3.6 million has been allocated in Year 1 of the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 to construct a partial-length taxiway, mitigating about 70 percent of safety risks associated with aircraft backtracking on the runway
• the partial solution focuses on Runway 29 (the end of the runway furthest from the Whanganui River), which is used most frequently due to prevailing winds.

Council chief strategy officer Sarah O’Hagan says the project has been carefully phased to ensure critical safety risks are addressed within the council's current budget while keeping options open to complete the full taxiway as funding becomes available.

"Delaying the project entirely would not only leave existing risks unresolved but likely result in significantly higher costs in future. This is a vital investment in the ongoing safety, functionality, and long-term sustainability of Whanganui Airport – a key asset supporting regional connectivity, business, and emergency services,” says Sarah O’Hagan.

To complete the full project, the council has submitted a full application to the Regional Infrastructure Fund, administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, seeking the remaining $3.6 million. A determination from Kānoa is expected later in the year.

For more information, visit the project page on the council website.