Scheduled Jet Flights Return to Hamilton Airport in June
New Zealand's Hamilton Airport, also known as Waikato Regional Airport, will see the return of scheduled passenger jet flights next month when Jetstar starts flights to Sydney (SYD) and the Gold Coast (OOL).
This week, Air New Zealand also confirmed that they would resume scheduled jet flights from Hamilton in September, flying five times per week to Christchurch (CHC) using an A320-200
Waikato Regional Airport CEO Mark Morgan said there had been ongoing discussions with Air New Zealand about jet operations from the airport, but this week's decision took them by surprise.
"We were confident domestic jet services would be back, but we've been very proactive in working to make that happen," he said. "But this is even faster than we had hoped and is a strong endorsement of the airport."
The Air New Zealand flights, which will operate every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from September 18, will be the first regularly scheduled domestic jet services to and from Hamilton Airport in 25 years.
Meanwhile, Jetstar announced last year that it would start flying its A320-200s from Hamilton after the airport upgraded its international arrivals and departure facilities. As part of the international terminal upgrade, the airport built a new domestic lounge separate from international facilities. At the same time, it reconfigured the tarmac to allow for more jet aircraft parking.
From June 16, Jetstar will fly four times per week to and from Sydney. Starting June 18, thrice weekly flights to the Gold Coast will begin. It will be the first time Jetstar has flown to Hamilton, around 120 kilometres south of Auckland.
The Jetstar flights will mark the first scheduled international flights to Hamilton Airport in 13 years. Virgin Australia was the last international operator there, flying twice weekly to and from Brisbane (BNE) using a B737-800. However, it ended the service in 2012, citing low passenger numbers.
Gearing up for international flights hasn't come cheap, with the airport paying between NZD1 – 2 million (USD600,000 – 1.2 million) for border control infrastructure, aside from other terminal and airport upgrades to accommodate the flights. But Morgan said creating a domestic opportunity, while investing in international facilities, has proven to be the right call.
"Our job is to create an environment to give airlines confidence, and we've done that," he said.
He added that the return of scheduled jet services to Hamilton acknowledged the area's growth. Hamilton's population is around 192,000, and the surrounding Waikato Region is the second fastest growing region in the country. The family-friendly city offers easy access to Auckland and a high-quality lifestyle, but at a far lower cost of living. Morgan also says the new jet services reinforce Hamilton's role as a key regional hub and give travellers more choice, more comfort, and faster travel.
"We'll be very happy to see a jet back on our tarmac later this year," he added.
Hamilton is currently served by Air New Zealand, which schedules several ATR72-600 daily services to Wellington (WLG) and Christchurch. Meanwhile, Orginair flies a Jetstream 32 between Hamilton and Palmerston North (PMR) three times per week, and Sunair uses six-passenger Piper Aztecs to link the city to Gisborne (GIS), Napier/Hastings (NPE), Whakatane (WHK), and Whangarei (WRE).
Photos: Hamilton Airport, Hamilton City Council