Kāpiti Coast Airport will stop operating at 7pm on November 30, 2026, its owner, NZ PropCo, has confirmed.
A company spokesperson said the airport would continue operating under its current certification and safety requirements until the closure takes effect.
The decision follows a conditional sale and purchase agreement entered into by NZ PropCo, which includes a requirement for the facility to shut down.
Aero Club Challenges Request to Vacate Airport Land
The closure has raised questions over the future of Kāpiti Aero Club Holdings, which holds a lease on the airport land until 2033.
The club has been asked to surrender its lease by November 30. However, the airport’s chief executive has also directed the organisation to leave the site by February 28, 2027.
Peter Merwood, an executive member of the Kāpiti Aero Club, said the organisation was seeking legal advice. He maintained that its existing lease provides legal rights to occupy the land until the agreement expires.
Airport Land Being Marketed for Housing
The airport property is currently being marketed for residential development. However, converting the land to housing would require a change to its zoning, which must be considered by the local council through a process involving public consultation.
The proposed change is not guaranteed to receive approval.
Tim Costley, the Member of Parliament for Ōtaki, questioned the need to close the airport, pointing to more than 5,000 houses already in development across the region.
He also highlighted the airport’s role in regional transport and emergency services. According to Mr Costley, around 15 Life Flight aircraft used Kāpiti Coast Airport during the previous year after being unable to land in Wellington.
Sounds Air Confirms Closure Notification
Andrew Crawford, chief executive of Sounds Air, confirmed that the airline had received formal notification of the airport’s closure date from the facility’s chief executive.
Closure to Affect Pilot Training and 13 Jobs
The Kāpiti Aero Club, which has been operating since 1983, said the shutdown would affect 13 staff members and interrupt the training of 50 pilots currently enrolled in its programme.
The organisation operates a fleet of more than 10 aircraft and has approximately 250 members.
Mr Merwood said the closure would permanently remove the region’s existing pilot-training facilities and infrastructure. He identified Feilding and Wellington as the nearest alternative areas available for training.
