New Zealand – flight training provider Air Hawke’s Bay has announced the partial relocation of its training operations from Hastings Aerodrome to Hawke’s Bay Airport, beginning January 2026. The move supports the school’s growth strategy and addresses capacity constraints at its existing site.
- Air Hawke’s Bay will shift part of its pilot training to Napier's Hawke’s Bay Airport to increase training output and accommodate more students. The Hastings Aerodrome site has reached capacity, limiting the school’s expansion plans; the airport’s support enables further scalability.
- The relocation aims to meet growing domestic and international pilot demand, which has intensified post-pandemic. Approximately 50% of the school’s student base is international, with these students typically residing in Hawke’s Bay for 12 months and contributing $1.3 million annually to the local economy.
- For close to 30 years Air Hawke’s Bay has operated from Hastings Aerodrome and currently employs more than 15 flight instructors.
Statements
- “By relocating a portion of our pilot training to Napier, we can grow our operations and train more pilots than ever before.” – Julie Wakefield, General Manager, Air Hawke’s Bay
- “We are pleased to welcome Air Hawke’s Bay to our campus and support the future of aviation training. Their arrival aligns strongly with our strategic plans to grow general aviation at the airport.” – Nick Flack, CEO, Hawke’s Bay Airport
- “By basing part of their operation with us, Air Hawke’s Bay will be able to increase the number of pilots they train—something the industry urgently needs.” – Nick Flack
Source: Local media reporting
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