Air NZ & Rwy 16L/34R
 

Hey again team, this has got me stumped as everytime I fly Air NZ back to Chch we use rwy 16L/34R and it seems all Air NZ flights except when they occasionally fly in a 777 (or previously 744) get allocated this runway. As im guessing the foreign Intl operator (in terms of flights) why is this the case. Are landing fees cheaper on that runway, or is just the way ATC allocate them. Thanks Mark

Think about the standard departure paths off 34R/16L and the general direction of NZ ;)

Very true guess I was more thinking about Chch flights as we are a stones throw north of Antartica

I "commute" to NZ using QF B737-800 and it is usually a departure from 16L/34R longer taxi but an immediate turn to the east. On the occasional departure off 34L the flight path goes to the west of Sydney before turning east, using more fuel. Arriving back in Sydney it seems we get 34L or 16R depending on traffic density. If AirNZ operates a B777 then 16R/34L might be preferable and may have been requested.

In the simplest terms, we can allocate aircraft departing to the east up to A330/787 size runway 16L/34R for departure.

Regards.

Seen 777's and 744's depart off there as well...

Special circumstances can dictate other aircraft types using the runway. Ie.
Sod props operations or no other suitable runway is available. Otherwise day to day ops are as per my previous.

Many thanks for all the replies and comments above and to Paul for how things are allocated. Cheers Mark