Wellington Airport is moving closer to hosting long-haul international flights, with construction of new runway safety zones set to begin after the summer travel period.

The work will allow larger aircraft to operate into the capital and opens the door for direct services from Asia and North America. Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said the project is expected to be completed by March.

The safety zones replace the painted tarmac areas at both ends of the airport’s 2,081-metre runway. They use energy-absorbing blocks designed to slow an aircraft safely if it overruns the runway. The blocks were manufactured in the United States and will be installed in sections.

The system effectively increases the runway’s usable landing distance by more than 130 metres. It also adds 26 metres for take-off. That additional length allows modern long-haul aircraft, including the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350-900, to operate with a full load.

As a result, the airport no longer needs to extend the runway 355 metres into Cook Strait. That proposal had been debated for years and faced strong opposition from parts of the community.

The safety zones form part of a wider redevelopment plan for Wellington Airport. The airport plans to spend about $1 billion on terminals and infrastructure by 2040, with passenger numbers expected to roughly double over that period.

Last year, the airport agreed with airlines on $500 million of investment over the next five years. The funding covers terminal upgrades, improved retail areas, and the development of community spaces at Lyall Bay.

International airlines are already showing interest. Wellington Airport recently partnered with Guangzhou Airport in China, one of the world’s largest aviation hubs. Guangzhou connects to more than 200 destinations across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

The partnership could lead to China Southern Airlines launching direct flights to Wellington. Initial services are likely to be seasonal charter flights, with the potential to grow into a regular service if demand builds.

Wellington remains a popular destination for Chinese visitors. Attractions such as Te Papa, the Wellington Cable Car, Zealandia, and Wētā Workshop are well known in the market. Wētā Workshop also has long-standing business links with Guangzhou.

Clarke said Wellington’s international catchment is similar in size to Canterbury’s. That means the city is unlikely to support large numbers of daily long-haul flights. However, he said it could sustain direct services to one or two major Asian hubs, along with connections to the United States and the Middle East, possibly with a stopover.

Singapore Airlines and Emirates both view Wellington as a major unserved market. Singapore Airlines previously operated services to the capital using an Airbus A350-900 and is widely expected to return when aircraft become available. A global shortage of wide-body aircraft remains a challenge.

Air New Zealand is not expected to operate long-haul services from Wellington, with the airline continuing to focus on Auckland as its main international hub.

Alongside the runway work, the airport is upgrading other facilities. A new fire station has opened on the western apron, freeing up space near the terminal for additional aircraft parking. Inside the terminal, new food and beverage outlets are already operating, with duty-free and retail upgrades planned for next year.

The airport also plans to replace its ageing baggage system and renew the southern seawall, which protects the runway from Cook Strait swells of up to 10 metres.

Together, the projects mark a significant step forward for Wellington Airport and strengthen the capital’s position in international travel.