New Airport Café Opens June 28
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Invercargill Airport is getting a new café operator.
Jerin Nadar, who runs Salt restaurant and previously operated Main Street Café and Eat on Windsor, will take over the terminal café from Sunday June 28, 2026.
The space will be rebranded as Hangar 106 with a refreshed look and updated food offering aimed at travellers and locals alike. A dedicated food trailer will also operate in the Jet Lounge area, serving hot and cold food, barista coffee and alcohol when the secure area is operating.
Invercargill Airport chief executive Stuart Harris said the appointment reflects the airport's commitment to enhancing customer experience while creating a destination for everyone.
"While the café will play an important role in serving our passengers, we also see it as a space for the wider community to enjoy. Airports have a unique atmosphere, and there is something special about sitting down with a coffee while watching aircraft arrive and depart," Harris said.
"We want people to feel welcome whether they are travelling, meeting friends, bringing children to watch the planes, or simply looking for somewhere different to enjoy great food and coffee."
Harris said the airport was committed to creating a vibrant terminal experience that reflects the region's quality and hospitality.
"The airport is one of Southland's front doors, and we want it to be a place people enjoy spending time in. Jerin and his team have built a strong reputation for hospitality, and we are excited to see their vision come to life."
For Nadar, the opportunity is about creating a café experience that goes beyond serving travellers.
"The airport is a really unique setting for a café. Of course, we'll be catering for travellers, but we also want this to be a place locals enjoy visiting. There aren't many places where you can sit down with great coffee and food while watching aircraft movements up close," Nadar said.
"We'd love to see families bringing children in to watch the planes, people catching up over coffee, and visitors making the café part of their airport experience. Our goal is to create a welcoming space with quality food and great service."
The concept makes sense. Airports elsewhere have become destinations in their own right, and Invercargill's terminal has the space and plane-spotting appeal to work as more than a travel pitstop.
Hangar 106 opens Sunday June 28.