Plans to extend the runway at Wellington Airport have taken another step forward with Wellington City Council agreeing to give $1 million to fund a resource consent application.
The council and airport will jointly fund a $2 million application to extend the runway by 300 metres.
The extension on reclaimed land in Evans Bay would cost about $300 million and would allow direct flights to Asia.
Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson says a long haul service could generate more than $100 million a year because of an increase in tourism and international students.
The resource consent process is likely to take two years, and the extension would take another three to five years to complete.
