You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills from News Talks at.

You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills from News Talks at.

B right talking about airports. We're talking about the news that's just come out Wellington Airport. I believe in hoping and are planning to actually invest a whole lot of money and label us to fly from Wellington to la at four o'clock this afternoon. Online is the CEO, Matt Clark. Good morning, Matty, Nick.

B right talking about airports. We're talking about the news that's just come out Wellington Airport. I believe in hoping and are planning to actually invest a whole lot of money and label us to fly from Wellington to la at four o'clock this afternoon. Online is the CEO, Matt Clark. Good morning, Matty, Nick.

How are you?

How are you?

I'm good? Thank you. This is pretty damn exciting news. Is it a reality?

I'm good? Thank you. This is pretty damn exciting news. Is it a reality?

Of course it is.

Of course it is.

You know, we're very excited about it. I think it's something we've been working on for a long time with our airline partners and we've got a great list of investments that we're looking to undertake over the next five years. And now we're very excited about it and it's great to finally be able to come out and talk about it.

You know, we're very excited about it. I think it's something we've been working on for a long time with our airline partners and we've got a great list of investments that we're looking to undertake over the next five years. And now we're very excited about it and it's great to finally be able to come out and talk about it.

Okay, is this as good as an airport extension?

Okay, is this as good as an airport extension?

Well, effectively it is one.

Well, effectively it is one.

So I think as you've seen in the news, you know, the new technology that's become available over the last few years and the way of effectively enhancing the safety areas around the airport mean that we can actually optimize the space that we do have, and that produces a one hundred and two metter extension to the effective length of the runway.

So I think as you've seen in the news, you know, the new technology that's become available over the last few years and the way of effectively enhancing the safety areas around the airport mean that we can actually optimize the space that we do have, and that produces a one hundred and two metter extension to the effective length of the runway.

So it's all good news for us.

So it's all good news for us.

You know, I've been saying in jest that this afternoon, if this has or had gone to plan and is going ahead, that I could be flying out at four o'clock this afternoon to LA from Wellington. Is that still a pipe dream or is that a reality? And how long would it take?

You know, I've been saying in jest that this afternoon, if this has or had gone to plan and is going ahead, that I could be flying out at four o'clock this afternoon to LA from Wellington. Is that still a pipe dream or is that a reality? And how long would it take?

I think four o'clock this afternoon is definitely on the optimistic side, Nick, You know, even for me, you know, that's far too so I think one of those things, you know, you look at all of the I guess the things that we need to do to achieve that. So obviously, you know, part of it is the runway, and I think we've you know, it's a fantastic step forward that we've been able to solve that, working with the airline pilots, with the airlines, the Pilot's Association, the cub Aviation Authority.

I think four o'clock this afternoon is definitely on the optimistic side, Nick, You know, even for me, you know, that's far too so I think one of those things, you know, you look at all of the I guess the things that we need to do to achieve that. So obviously, you know, part of it is the runway, and I think we've you know, it's a fantastic step forward that we've been able to solve that, working with the airline pilots, with the airlines, the Pilot's Association, the cub Aviation Authority.

You know, we've still got a few regulatory approvals to tick off to get that sort of but we've.

You know, we've still got a few regulatory approvals to tick off to get that sort of but we've.

Really come up with a design that will actually solve the runway part of that equation, then we see there's the aircraft performance. So you know, we've been really fortunate in the last few years that actually air craft manufacturers have been able to make some massive advances.

Really come up with a design that will actually solve the runway part of that equation, then we see there's the aircraft performance. So you know, we've been really fortunate in the last few years that actually air craft manufacturers have been able to make some massive advances.

In terms of the range of aircraft from a runway like Wellington's.

In terms of the range of aircraft from a runway like Wellington's.

We're quite lucky that we're very similar to that holiday resort in France of Saint Martin, or the French colony of Saint Martin, and so Airbus are very keen to get performance off short runways sorted out, and we're very similar to that. And so there's a Wellington specific a three point fifty flight performance modification which can really make things happen from Wellington's runway.

We're quite lucky that we're very similar to that holiday resort in France of Saint Martin, or the French colony of Saint Martin, and so Airbus are very keen to get performance off short runways sorted out, and we're very similar to that. And so there's a Wellington specific a three point fifty flight performance modification which can really make things happen from Wellington's runway.

Matt, what sort of planes will be able to land here? What size would would we be able to get into And.

Matt, what sort of planes will be able to land here? What size would would we be able to get into And.

So with this change from the engineered material system, we can basically have any of the twin engine modern jets that is going to be flying over the next thirty years is going to be able to land here. So currently all of those aircraft can land here, apart from like seven four sevens and a three eighties. Anything can land here already, but the restriction I guess with the runway length that we have is the outbound range. But interestingly, with the new aircraft technology, all of the work they're putting into extending the range in terms of extending the fuel efficiency means that those new aircraft and the aircraft that are delivered over the next few years, they can all actually fly a lot further from a short runway. So that means, you know, those direct NonStop flights to places like Asia and the US so are rapidly becoming a reality for us.

So with this change from the engineered material system, we can basically have any of the twin engine modern jets that is going to be flying over the next thirty years is going to be able to land here. So currently all of those aircraft can land here, apart from like seven four sevens and a three eighties. Anything can land here already, but the restriction I guess with the runway length that we have is the outbound range. But interestingly, with the new aircraft technology, all of the work they're putting into extending the range in terms of extending the fuel efficiency means that those new aircraft and the aircraft that are delivered over the next few years, they can all actually fly a lot further from a short runway. So that means, you know, those direct NonStop flights to places like Asia and the US so are rapidly becoming a reality for us.

Right, let's talk about other things that you're doing at the airport. I mean, you have to be living under a rock of your haven't driven around and seen you've started work on your airport where the golf course part of the of the airport development. You're also planning on doing a new multi level bar and care for huge views over everything, which starts next year. You're looking at doing stuff along Lyle Bay. I mean you're sort of becoming like a community service rather than an airport.

Right, let's talk about other things that you're doing at the airport. I mean, you have to be living under a rock of your haven't driven around and seen you've started work on your airport where the golf course part of the of the airport development. You're also planning on doing a new multi level bar and care for huge views over everything, which starts next year. You're looking at doing stuff along Lyle Bay. I mean you're sort of becoming like a community service rather than an airport.

Yeah, and I think that's what an airport is, you know.

Yeah, and I think that's what an airport is, you know.

I think what's good for the airport, it's good for the city, and I think it's really important for us that we actually extend the reach of the airport.

I think what's good for the airport, it's good for the city, and I think it's really important for us that we actually extend the reach of the airport.

You know, We've we've got a.

You know, We've we've got a.

Lot of interesting things that we can do and we just want to activate the community we've got.

Lot of interesting things that we can do and we just want to activate the community we've got.

You know, you know all about Lyle Baynick.

You know, you know all about Lyle Baynick.

You know, I think we've been working together there for a long time and it's it's a fantastic location. You know, we've got the busiest surf break in Wellington. It's a beautiful beach and we've long had a vision for that area that we develop it and make it a really awesome community place to be. So, you know, we've got Southwood Gin Distillery opens this weekend. We've got a new waterfront bakery cafe that's opening.

You know, I think we've been working together there for a long time and it's it's a fantastic location. You know, we've got the busiest surf break in Wellington. It's a beautiful beach and we've long had a vision for that area that we develop it and make it a really awesome community place to be. So, you know, we've got Southwood Gin Distillery opens this weekend. We've got a new waterfront bakery cafe that's opening.

We're working with the council trying to.

We're working with the council trying to.

Get a boardwalk and to really develop that whole waterfront area. It's probably the slowest development that we've got on the books, is we're trying to do with the council because we need them to agree to actually sell us some land to develop that boardwalk. But we're getting there with them and that's going to be awesome.

Get a boardwalk and to really develop that whole waterfront area. It's probably the slowest development that we've got on the books, is we're trying to do with the council because we need them to agree to actually sell us some land to develop that boardwalk. But we're getting there with them and that's going to be awesome.

Tell us a little bit about that, because I mean I've got a little bit of inside information, but not a lot. But see you've just said that you're trying to negotiate a deal with the council to sell you some land. Surely, with the finances of the way they are, they would sell anything right now, including their grandmother.

Tell us a little bit about that, because I mean I've got a little bit of inside information, but not a lot. But see you've just said that you're trying to negotiate a deal with the council to sell you some land. Surely, with the finances of the way they are, they would sell anything right now, including their grandmother.

You would think so, you would think so. So.

You would think so, you would think so. So.

No, it's a bit of the waterfront. There's a little slip there that's been held for a road reserve. It's obviously cut off from the areas around it, so it's actually not much use for a road reserve. So we've proposed to the council that we buy that developed it tended into a community facility. So we want to build things like changing and storage facilities for the surfing community and really make a public space on La Bay pretty much next to the Spruce Goose in front of the warehouse there.

No, it's a bit of the waterfront. There's a little slip there that's been held for a road reserve. It's obviously cut off from the areas around it, so it's actually not much use for a road reserve. So we've proposed to the council that we buy that developed it tended into a community facility. So we want to build things like changing and storage facilities for the surfing community and really make a public space on La Bay pretty much next to the Spruce Goose in front of the warehouse there.

Okay, so there'll be toilets and shower facility for surface, which they've never had down there apart from an outdoor one.

Okay, so there'll be toilets and shower facility for surface, which they've never had down there apart from an outdoor one.

Correct. Yeah, And that's what we're proposing.

Correct. Yeah, And that's what we're proposing.

So all we need to do is we need the councilors who support us to do that and sell us that piece of land so we can get on with it.

So all we need to do is we need the councilors who support us to do that and sell us that piece of land so we can get on with it.

Can I just quickly ask you whether that will affect the dividends of the council shares. Obviously, our listeners will be thinking that, you know, they save a little bit of rates by you guys been making so much money for them. I'm not saying for yourself that all the spending will that effect if the sale doesn't go through, Will that affect that?

Can I just quickly ask you whether that will affect the dividends of the council shares. Obviously, our listeners will be thinking that, you know, they save a little bit of rates by you guys been making so much money for them. I'm not saying for yourself that all the spending will that effect if the sale doesn't go through, Will that affect that?

Not at all?

Not at all?

No, No, it's in terms of that little piece of land, it's very very im material. In terms of the airport business.

No, No, it's in terms of that little piece of land, it's very very im material. In terms of the airport business.

I met more of all of them, sorry, man, I meant more of the whole big project and all this spend. Will that affect it?

I met more of all of them, sorry, man, I meant more of the whole big project and all this spend. Will that affect it?

No, not at all.

No, not at all.

So we've got our financial modeling going out for the next ten years and all of that that kind of investment program, so that five hundred million in the year a autical business and also in the commercial business, we've got additional spend. All of that's been forecast outs. And in terms of the I guess that there's no modeling that indicates there'd be any need for a call on sharehold us for that.

So we've got our financial modeling going out for the next ten years and all of that that kind of investment program, so that five hundred million in the year a autical business and also in the commercial business, we've got additional spend. All of that's been forecast outs. And in terms of the I guess that there's no modeling that indicates there'd be any need for a call on sharehold us for that.

How good? How good? Friday is a great day to have some good views, isn't it? Isn't it? How good?

How good? How good? Friday is a great day to have some good views, isn't it? Isn't it? How good?

I reckon?

I reckon?

It's fantastic and I really hope it's the you know, the inflection point for this Wellington narrative. You know, we've you know, we've we've had an interesting year at the AFT. We've had our best financial year. We've had just about six million people pass through the gates here, which is just about bordering on our all time record for passengers.

It's fantastic and I really hope it's the you know, the inflection point for this Wellington narrative. You know, we've you know, we've we've had an interesting year at the AFT. We've had our best financial year. We've had just about six million people pass through the gates here, which is just about bordering on our all time record for passengers.

And we've been hearing this negativity about.

And we've been hearing this negativity about.

The CBD, about the city, about what's happening in Wellington, and it.

The CBD, about the city, about what's happening in Wellington, and it.

Just seems bizarre.

Just seems bizarre.

You know, it's a fantastic place down here and everything's going so well, and it's about time.

You know, it's a fantastic place down here and everything's going so well, and it's about time.

I think we just came to the change of story on that. You know, love it, I love it.

I think we just came to the change of story on that. You know, love it, I love it.

You're probably sick of talking about all the negativity and all the people staring at the navels.

You're probably sick of talking about all the negativity and all the people staring at the navels.

Let's go out and do some work.

Let's go out and do some work.

Love it.

Love it.

Love the idea of us being a truly international I think when we get international flights, we become automatically, like the click of a switch, true international city. And I don't think people in the city, anywhere in the city would realize how big a difference it would make. Matt always good to talk to you, have a great weekend. Appreciate your time.

Love the idea of us being a truly international I think when we get international flights, we become automatically, like the click of a switch, true international city. And I don't think people in the city, anywhere in the city would realize how big a difference it would make. Matt always good to talk to you, have a great weekend. Appreciate your time.

Thank you, Nick, I appreciate it.

Thank you, Nick, I appreciate it.

Matt Clark, their CEO of Wellington Airport. It is a positive story, isn't it. No you love a positive story.

Matt Clark, their CEO of Wellington Airport. It is a positive story, isn't it. No you love a positive story.

For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine to am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.

For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine to am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.