KEY POINTS:
Wellington Airport has released drawings of the final part of a $53 million international passenger terminal it says will create a "unique and memorable" experience for passengers.
The building - labelled "The Rock" - is part of the second stage of a terminal upgrade and is scheduled to
be finished next year.
Wellington Airport's chief executive, Steven Fitzgerald, said the departure from traditional, bland airport design worldwide was entirely deliberate.
"It's edgy and in keeping with our Wild at Heart attitude, reflecting Wellington's status as a vibrant and daring cultural city."
The Rock will use plywood and fibre-cement in its carcass and recycled materials from other parts of the airport.
The building has been designed by Wellington architects Studio Pacific Architecture, and Christchurch's Warren and Mahoney.
Wellington's mayor, Kerry Prendergast, said the design of the international terminal truly the uniqueness and creativity of Wellington. "I have no doubt this terminal will become a talking point, not just nationally, but internationally."
Stage one of the terminal upgrade was opened last year and included a better defined international departure farewell area; improved Customs and MAF processing area, an additional international baggage belt and an additional aerobridge and domestic gates with international capacity.
Stage two will include extra lounge seating , improved waiting and queuing areas to gates and another aerobridge, bringing the total number from 6 to 8 available to international aircraft.
Wellington Airport, co-owned by the Wellington City Council, says aeronautical charges were increased by 2.85 per cent for the next five years to fund the $53 million terminal upgrade and other aeronautical projects such as the runway end safety areas, costing $31 million.
The designs were released yesterday, hours before the airport's majority owner Infratil, announced its results for the nine months to December 31.
Infratil posted a nine-month profit of $4.1 million, down from $62.4 million a year earlier which had been partly inflated by asset sales.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and other factors increased to $240.5 million from $101.3 million a year earlier, and the operating surplus rose to $85.7 million from $29.4 million.
Infratil said it may review the timing of its investments in bus services, airport facilities, and energy generation plant and retail, because the cost of capital was rising as a result of global credit market problems.
However, Infratil's existing airports, energy and public transport operations were likely to be relatively resilient to the fallout, the company said.
The company said the highlight was Wellington Airport's 32 per cent rise in net profit to $5.9 million for the quarter, on the back of the launch of Pacific Blue's services to Christchurch and Auckland.
TrustPower continues to be a dominant influence on Infratil's results, and value. For the latest quarter net profit was $15.8 million from $28.7 million a year earlier.