Air traffic management

As Aotearoa New Zealand’s air navigation service provider, we are responsible for delivering air traffic control and infrastructure to ensure all aircraft and passengers in our airspace arrive at their destination, safely and efficiently.

From departure to arrival, our air traffic controllers are responsible for ensuring safe separation of aircraft through our airspace and the safe and efficient operation of aircraft in and around airports. They also provide support and information to aircraft travelling in uncontrolled airspace.

The airspace we control

Airways controls all domestic and international air traffic travelling within New Zealand’s Flight Information Region (FIR), which covers 30 million square kilometres – one of the largest areas of airspace in the world.

• The NZ domestic FIR covers the entire country and surrounding coastline with both 'controlled' and 'uncontrolled' airspace.
• The Auckland Oceanic FIR covers close to 29 million square kilometres of the South Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Tasman Sea, extending from 5 degrees south of the equator to Antarctica. We are responsible for aircraft flying between 24,500 feet and 46,000 feet in this sector.
• Within the FIRs, there are also areas of uncontrolled airspace, where (light) aircraft are not separated by a controller but receive information and advice to ensure they can conduct their flights safely.

Technology and innovation

The systems developed by Airways and our partners maximise the efficient use of airspace and help to reduce delays.

We invest in new technology that enhances safety, saves millions of dollars for our customers, and delivers real economic and environmental benefits for our customers and the travelling public.

Find out more about Airways' Collaborative Flow Manager

Find out more about Performance Based Navigation 

Find out more about Divergent Missed Approach Protection System