Airports / New Zealand / CHC
Christchurch International Airport.
Christchurch, New Zealand · 123 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
NZCH
IATA CHC
0
Operators based
123
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
75 nm
To the nearest alternate
Timaru Airport (TIU).
Overview
Christchurch International Airport (NZCH / CHC) sits in Christchurch, New Zealand, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The airport sits 123 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into CHC for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Timaru Airport (TIU, 75 nm), Hokitika Airfield (HKK, 82 nm), and Mount Cook Airport (MON, 106 nm). With 3 runways, the longest 10,787-foot paved runway, CHC can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from CHC depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Christchurch.
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Field capability
ICAO
NZCH
IATA
CHC
FAA / Local
NZCH
Elevation
123 ft
Coordinates
43.4890° S · 172.5321° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs New Zealand fields
state range 4–2,153 ft
At 123 ft, CHC sits higher than 53% of the 38 New Zealand fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 10,787 ft
- 02/2010,787 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 11/295,587 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 01/191,690 ft × 229 ftGrass / turfUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,787 ft
CHC's 10,787 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 75nmTIUTimaru Airport
- 82nmHKKHokitika Airfield
- 106nmMONMount Cook Airport
- 107nmGTNGlentanner AirportGlentanner Station
- 109nmOAMOamaru Airport
- 113nmWSZWestport AirportWestport
Location
Open the full mapNZCH · Christchurch International Airport · Christchurch, New Zealand
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CHC on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 4,218 nm | 10h 13m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 5,997 nm | 14h 21m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 6,020 nm | 14h 24m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 6,192 nm | 14h 48m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 6,203 nm | 14h 50m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,455 nm | 15h 25m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 6,495 nm | 15h 30m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 6,544 nm | 15h 37m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CHC?
- Christchurch International Airport's longest paved runway is 10,787 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CHC?
- Christchurch International Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 10,787 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CHC?
- The closest alternate is Timaru Airport (TIU), about 75 nm away, followed by Hokitika Airfield (HKK) at 82 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CHC to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 10h 13m (4,218 nm), Los Angeles about 14h 21m (5,997 nm), San Francisco about 14h 24m (6,020 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.