Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport (IATA Airport Code: WLG) serves New Zealand's capital city of Wellington. It is located on the Rongotai Isthmus.
It is a major domestic hub, as well as providing air links to the major cities of Australia.
The current site opened in 1959, after previously being based further north at Paraparaumu. A major new terminal was completed in 1999, and as of late 2004, plans are under way to lengthen the 1,936m runway in accordance with ICAO safety regulations. However, a full-length extension — to accomodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 747 — would require highly expensive land reclamation, and doubts exist over the viability of such a undertaking.
Since 1998, the airport has been two-thirds privately owned, with the remaining third owned by the Wellington City Council.
In late 2003, WIA was notable for installing a large statue of Gollum on the terminus, as part of a publicity stunt to promote the world premiere of The Return of the King.
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