Wellington International Airport's new draft master plan for the next twenty years sees passenger numbers doubling while charges remain steady.

It's based around "maintaining international connectivity with long haul mid sized aircraft like the B787 and the A350," the company's chief executive Steven Fitzgerald said.

"Passenger movements will double to 10 million per year by 2030, but there'll be only 10% more aircraft movements as the airlines use bigger planes, but we'd not expect (our charges) to move very much. Real prices will have dropped by 14% when the current contract period ends in 2014," he said.

The $450 million of capital development will be financed almost wholly or completely from increased cash flow from higher passenger numbers, although the company could handle higher debt levels.

The previous plan projected 4.7 million passengers by 2011, a target Wellington Airport surpassed last year.

The plan, released yesterday for consultation, has impressed the regional chamber of commerce. Chief Executive Charles Finny said the plan allowed for growth in the regional economy and had minimal impact on the surrounding area.

"It factors in aircraft like the A350 and B787, and we are happy with that."

Key points in the $450 million development plan are:

• 14 more aircraft gates to a total of 42
• A 7-8 story car park for 3500 cars with terminal access
• Proposed realignment of Calabar Road leading into the airport to accommodate wider wing span aircraft
• A bigger passenger terminal with more retail and other facilities

"It's a clever plan in that it keeps Wellington airport on a compact site, user friendly and under one roof," Mr Fitzgerald said.

Changes to the existing terminal for check in and baggage handling, building stage two of the international terminal expansion, and building two or three levels of the car parking building are scheduled for completion by 2015. Most of the other developments are scheduled for the 2015 - 2020 period.

Freight movement is expected to increase from 5000 tonnes per year to 28 000 tonnes a year by 2030.

The importance of the airport to the regional economy is emphasised by the company's commissioning of an economic impact study by the consulting firm BERL.

The study projects a direct contribution from the airport to the region by 2030 of $1.6 billion and 13 000 jobs.

The contribution of a daily direct service to Europe via one point in Asia is assessed at $29 million. Mr Fitzgerald said any service would likely begin on a once a week basis.

The plan document shows a possible runway extension of 400m into Cook Strait and/or 100m into Evans Bay, but there is no provision in the plan for an A380 type aircraft.

Mr Fitzgerald said the runway could be extended if it were needed to comply with CAA or international safety requirements, or if there were a commercial case for it.

Wellington International Airport Ltd is two thirds owned by Infratil and one third by the Wellington City Council. Airports' charging practices are currently under review by the Commerce Commission and "we are assuming a sensible outcome from that process," Mr Fitzgerald said.

Published in the National Business Review of 30 April 2009