02 November 2009

First themed airbridge for Airport

Tomorrow morning sees the opening of Christchurch International Airport’s (CIAL) first themed airbridge, which focuses on an Antarctic experience. Passengers will walk through an airbridge which has floor to ceiling images of Antarctica and Antarctic penguins, complete with sounds of penguin and seal calls. 

“We aim to give passengers a unique sensory experience as they arrive into Christchurch,” explained CIAL General Manager Marketing and Business Development Gareth Owen. “Christchurch Airport is New Zealand’s tourism gateway, so we will have several airbridges, each themed for a tourist attraction or iconic scenery you can reach from Christchurch.  That will include Antarctica, the Fiordland rain forest, lakes and native bush.

”The airbridges will all have floor to ceiling images, sound, and occasionally smells, to give people a true sensation of actually being in each location."

“We began with the Antarctic airbridge, because of the strategic relationship we have with Antarctica, being a key travel point to that destination,” said Gareth Owen.

The Antarctic airbridge is a combined venture of Antarctica New Zealand, the Antarctic Attraction and Christchurch International Airport.