Mark Morgan had a twinkle in his eye when he spoke about the possibility international flights could be returning to Hamilton Airport.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, centre, celebrates the return of international flights to Hamilton Airport with chief executive Steph O’Sullivan, left, and Matamata-Piako mayor Adrienne Wilcock. Photo: Supplied.
It was the end of June and The News put the question to him following up on our front page the previous month when we reported Aussies were eyeing our airport.
“When can we see the return of international flights to Waikato?” we asked.
The answer was non-committal then but earlier this week the Waikato Regional Airport boss confirmed it would be next year and Qantas subsidiary Jetstar would provide three return flights a week to the Gold Coast and four return flights to Sydney.
Celebration time, from left: Shelley Musk, NZ Manager – Jetstar, Mark Morgan, Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, Jetstar crew, Matamata Piako and Ōtorohanga mayors Adrienne Wilcock and Max Baxter with another Jetstar crew member. Photo: Supplied.
The international flights would be the first out of the council-owned Hamilton Airport in 13 years. Virgin Australia’s final flight from Hamilton to Brisbane was in October 2012.
“It’s been hard, complex work, in a very sensitive commercial environment and we are thrilled to have pulled this off,” said Morgan.
“The benefits for the entire region – not just passengers – are huge. Analysis indicates the flights will boost the regional economy by about $45 million per year.”
Three months ago, Morgan said the growing pressure on Auckland Airport and the traffic congestion around the area had opened up the international possibilities for Waikato.
“Our market eventually is trans-Tasman or the islands. It’s not LA or Europe,” he said.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, right, and chief executive Steph O’Sullivan at the launch of Jetstar’s Trans-Tasman flights at Hamilton Airport this week. Photo: Supplied.
The time was ripe because of Waikato’s growth, particularly with Hamilton being the fastest growing city in the country.
“I think there is a real opportunity. We can have conversations, we can advocate but it has to make commercial sense to us and the airlines,” he said.
Clearly it made sense as he confirmed he had more conversations with airlines in the last couple of years than he had in the preceding five or six years.
It was the growth of the North Island and the catchment of Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua then south to Taupō and the King Country which would attract airlines, he said then.
Having flights mid-morning from Hamilton would change the way you think about international travel, he said.
The aircraft used on the trans-Tasman routes will be a 188-seater A320 Neo. The airport’s northern terminal will be prepared for Customs, border control, aviation security and other services.
The airport is a council-controlled organisation owned by Hamilton City, Ōtorohanga, Waipā, Waikato and Matamata-Piako councils and is the umbrella for subsidiary companies Hamilton Airport, Jet Park Hotel Hamilton Airport, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism and Titanium Park Limited.
Mark Morgan, left, and airport chair Barry Harris. Photo: Stephen Barker
While called Hamilton Airport, it is in Rukuhia, part of the Waipā district.
Mayor Susan O’Regan, who was born and brought up near the airport, said she was “absolutely stoked”.
“…all of us will benefit from flights in and out of the airport which is, after all, in our district. These flights will mean 65,000 visitors each year landing in our patch so the economic potential from visitors alone is fantastic.”
Once flights begin Jetstar will become the fourth airline using Hamilton Airport for scheduled flights.
Other carriers include Air New Zealand, Sunair and Originair.
Waipa mayor Susan O’Regan at Hamilton Airport. Photo: Supplied.
