Decking the halls at Christchurch Airport

For the past five years, Citycare Property has assisted Christchurch International Airport to plan and place its many Christmas decorations. 

An 8-metre Christmas tree on the concourse sets the tone for the festive season within Christchurch International Airport.

For the past two years, the event has been a little subdued due to COVID-19 and the resulting lack of flights and activity in the terminal, but this year, a full complement of decorations is once again on display, in anticipation of the 50,000 visitors expected through the airport over the Christmas-New Year period.

Contracted riggers install one of the numerous garlands that festoon the terminal.

Citycare Property manages the installation of the decorations for the airport company, with members of the building maintenance team working with a team of contracted riggers to install seven trees ranging in height from three metres to eight metres, as well as hanging garlands throughout the terminal and on the concourse.

“The team is also tasked with ensuring the health and safety and security requirements of working in an international airport are met at all times,” says Terminal Services Manager, Stuart Jacques.

Citycare Property’s ‘Christmas elves’ (from left) Stuart Jacques, Terminal Services Manager; Richard Scott, Carpentry Foreman; and Russell Palmer, Carpenter, have been working to ensure Christchurch Airport looks fully festive this holiday season.

The work takes around two-three days to complete and the decorations will be displayed until the first day back in January 2023, when the team will take them all down again and store them for another year.