Lord Howe Island Airport (IATA: LDH[2], ICAO: YLHI) is an airport providing air transportation to Lord Howe Island.[1] It is operated by the Lord Howe Island Board.[1] Prior to its opening in September 1974, Lord Howe Island was served by flying boats from Rose Bay Water Airport.[3] The pending cessation of flying boat operations prompted the NSW Government and the then Australian Department of Transport to engage the Australian Army Corps of Engineers to build a grass runway, thus allowing land-based aircraft to operate to the island.[4][5]
Lord Howe Island Airport | |||||||||||
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.jpg) Runway in 2016 | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Lord Howe Island Board | ||||||||||
| Serves | Lord Howe Island Australia | ||||||||||
| Opened | September 1974 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 17 ft / 5 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°32′18″S 159°04′38″E / 31.53833°S 159.07722°E | ||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||
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  YLHI Location on map of Oceania | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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Light aircraft transit
editLord Howe Island (along with Norfolk Island) is an important transit and refueling point for light aircraft flying between Australia and New Zealand. Located 600 km (373 mi) to the west is the Australian mainland, and 900 km (559 mi) to the east is Norfolk Island Airport which is within range of New Zealand to the southeast and New Caledonia to the north. These countries are within the range of many light aircraft when fitted with extra fuel tanks and operating via the two islands, but not while flying directly between them. From New Caledonia, other Pacific nations such as Vanuatu and Fiji are within range and can be used as further 'stepping stones' to other South Pacific and North Pacific destinations.
Facilities
editThe airport's elevation above mean sea level is 17 ft (5 m) and it has one runway, measuring 886 m × 30 m (2,907 ft × 98 ft).[1]
Airlines and destinations
edit| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Eastern Air Services[6] | Gold Coast, Newcastle, Port Macquarie |
| QantasLink[7] | Sydney (ends 25 February 2026)[8] |
| Skytrans | Sydney (begins 26 February 2026)[8] |
Statistics
editLord Howe Island Airport served 33,385 revenue passengers during financial year[9] 2009–2010,[10] ranking it 64th amongst airports in Australia.
| Year[9] | Revenue passengers | Aircraft movements |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | ||
| 2002–03 | ||
| 2003–04 | ||
| 2004–05 | ||
| 2005–06 | ||
| 2006–07 | ||
| 2007–08 | ||
| 2008–09 | ||
| 2009–10 | ||
| 2010–11 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d YLHI – Lord Howe Island (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 13 June 2024, Aeronautical Chart Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Airport information for Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia (LDH / YLHI) at Great Circle Mapper.
- ^ Wilson, Stewart (2002). The Story of the Rise and Fall of Ansett 1936-2002. Fyshwick: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1875671579.
- ^ "Airport".
- ^ "Army builds Lord Howe Island airstrip DPR/TV/1604".
- ^ Lord Howe Island Flights Archived 6 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine Eastern Air Services
- ^ QantasLink retains Lord Howe Island licence until 2025 Australian Frequent Flyer 14 November 2021
- ^ a b Sia, Stephen (1 November 2024). "NSW Government Media Release – Lord Howe Island Air Service". Australian Rural & Regional News. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ a b Fiscal year 1 July – 30 June
- ^ a b "Airport Traffic Data 1985–86 to 2010–11". Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics. May 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"