Airports / New Zealand / WKA
Wanaka Airport.
Wanaka, New Zealand · 1,142 ft elevation. 2 charter operators based here.
NZWF
IATA WKA
2
Operators based
1,142
Elevation ft
Based operators
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
2 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 58% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
28 nm
To the nearest alternate
Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Wanaka Airport, listed as NZWF / WKA, is a mid-sized airport in Wanaka, New Zealand. Field elevation is 1,142 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
For charter flyers, WKA is a home base: Alpine Helicopters and Greenstone Helicopters operate from the field. The closest alternate fields are Queenstown Airport (ZQN, 28 nm), Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR, 30 nm), and Pukaki Airport (TWZ, 47 nm). The field has a single 3,937-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to light jets.
Trip costs from WKA are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Luggate Airport. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from WKA to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
NZWF
IATA
WKA
FAA / Local
NZWF
Elevation
1,142 ft
Coordinates
44.7221° S · 169.2463° 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
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs New Zealand fields
state range 4–2,153 ft
At 1,142 ft, WKA sits higher than 84% of the 38 New Zealand fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,937 ft
- 11/293,937 ft × 98 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,937 ft
WKA's 3,937 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets.
- 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.
Based charter operators2
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 28nmZQNQueenstown AirportQueenstown
- 30nmALRAlexandra AerodromeAlexandra
- 47nmTWZPukaki AirportTwitzel
- 62nmGTNGlentanner AirportGlentanner Station
- 69nmMONMount Cook Airport
- 80nmOAMOamaru Airport
Location
Open the full mapNZWF · Wanaka Airport · Wanaka, New Zealand
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from WKA on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 4,354 nm | 10h 32m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 6,155 nm | 14h 43m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 6,174 nm | 14h 45m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 6,350 nm | 15h 10m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 6,363 nm | 15h 12m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,604 nm | 15h 45m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 6,652 nm | 15h 52m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 6,660 nm | 15h 53m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use WKA?
- Wanaka Airport's longest paved runway is 3,937 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets. 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 WKA?
- Wanaka Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,937 ft on a paved surface.
- Are there charter operators based at WKA?
- Yes. 2 charter operators list Wanaka Airport as a home base, including Alpine Helicopters, Greenstone Helicopters. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to WKA?
- The closest alternate is Queenstown Airport (ZQN), about 28 nm away, followed by Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) at 30 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from WKA to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 10h 32m (4,354 nm), Los Angeles about 14h 43m (6,155 nm), San Francisco about 14h 45m (6,174 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.