Christchurch International Airport - History

History

Development of the aerodrome at Harewood commenced in 1936. By 1946 the form of the terminal area development was established with hangars, a small terminal building, the water tower and some barracks buildings. The two runways and parallel taxiway concept was established in the early 1950s and in 1960 a new terminal building, designed by Paul Pascoe, was in operation. Since that time, additions to the buildings, development of parking and access and extensions to the runway/ taxiway/ apron system have been almost continuous.

• 1935 Decision was made by the Council to locate new airport at Harewood as the best site for Christchurch.
• 1937 A 915 metre runway and a 60 square metre terminal constructed
• 1940 The airport became RNZAF Station Harewood.
• 1950 Christchurch Airport received clearance for international operations by the Government.
• 1960 A new Domestic terminal opens designed by local architect Paul Pascoe.
• 1962 The main runway was extended to 2,442 metres providing for commercial jet operations.
• 1966 An international wing was added to the Domestic Terminal.
• 1972 The north-west runway was completely resealed, repainted and extended to 1,741 metres.
• 1975 Extensions to the Domestic Terminal were completed a new pier added, extending the total floor space to 16,000 square metres
• 1984 Main runway extended by 845 metres to 3,287 metres.
• 1987 Terminal extended to accommodate Ansett New Zealand and Air New Zealand lounges and domestic airbridges
• 1998 New International Terminal Building completed creating an additional 28,000 square metres of new floor space
• 2004 Expansion of the International Terminal to create five more international stands and four more international airbridges
• 2009 Work starts on replacing old domestic terminal with a new building to be built over the existing one.