"Getting this project going again is important to the airport, but perhaps even more so the region, especially the local construction supply chain," he said.
"The project is supporting over 200 jobs with 30 individual sub-contractors engaged - nearly all of them are local Hawke's Bay businesses."
Ainslie added: "It's been frustrating to have to down tools, but we've got a great team and they are a resilient bunch. I'm confident that we'll see the project completed inside the first couple of months of next year."
Whilst the aviation industry will remain largely grounded during alert level 3, Air New Zealand announced the recommencement of scheduled flights to Hawke's Bay for those travelling under essential circumstances.
A Covid-19 management plan, including contactless systems, updated site plans and measures around site distancing, cleaning requirements and site operations, has been developed to set out the procedures that will be implemented to ensure construction can be completed safely in a level 3 environment.
The construction management team are liaising with the project's various sub-contractors and suppliers to ensure all parties are appropriately prepared and inducted ahead of the anticipated return to work.
The site is due to reopen on Tuesday April 28, with construction getting under way by the following Monday. The project is in its third and final stage.
"There's going to be a huge amount of structural steel pop up over the next fortnight which will give the community some real perspective of what the final roofline will look like," Ainslie added.
