regularly using the airport. The current runway length limits their operation under certain conditions so the proposal is for an initial extension to 1500m and then potentially to 1700m. New Plymouth Airport opened the new terminal building to its first flight on Tuesday 17 March 2020. The new terminal can cater for up to 650,000 people and includes a new retail space, a convenience grab and go offering, and the café/bar Airspresso. The modular design of the new building allows for expansion as passenger numbers increase year to year. As part of the works an airside viewing area has been created to the east of the new building which will enhance the customer experience by providing non-passengers the ability to see the airside view of the terminal building. In July 2021 New Plymouth Airport, designed by Beca Architects, was nominated for the Prix Versailles 2021 in the Airports category, other finalists been the upgrade to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport, and international airports in Athens, Kazakhstan and the Philippines. In December 2021 New Plymouth Airport Terminal has been awarded the World Special Prize for Exterior. Photo Gallery Airlines and destinations Previous Airlines Origin Pacific Airways used to operate Jetstream J31, Metroliner and Jetstream 41 aircraft to/from Auckland and to/from Nelson 6x weekly. NAC used to operate from New Plymouth with a Fokker F27 service. Regional airline Sunair used to fly to New Plymouth from Hamilton. Jetstar used to fly to Auckland. While Originair used to fly to Nelson. Aircraft (This list is approximate and may be incomplete) 1966–1990 Fokker F27 Friendships Mk 100 and Mk500 1990–2006 Fairchild-Swearingen Metroliner 1990–2007 Saab 340 1995–2005 Piper Navajo 2000–2006 Jetstream J31 Occasional Jetstream J41 operations. 2005–present Bombardier Q300 2012–present ATR 72 2017–2019 Jetstream J32 See also List of airports in New Zealand List of airlines of New Zealand List of the busiest airports in New Zealand Transport in New Zealand References External links New Plymouth Airport at the District Council web site Airports in New Zealand New Plymouth Government-owned companies of New Zealand Transport in Taranaki Buildings and structures in New Plymouth Transport buildings and structures in Taranaki