He said the Jetstar issue was not whether airports in the Far North could handle more flights but on the possibility of an airline servicing the routes.
Currently, only Air New Zealand flies to and from the Whangarei, Kerikeri and Kaitaia airports that can only accommodate 50-seater planes.
A Jetstar spokesman said while there were obvious opportunities in providing Northland air travellers with more choice, it was early days and the airline's key focus remained on its services between the main centres.
The airline would not say whether it was in discussion with airport managers in Northland.
Whangarei airport manager Mike Chubb said he had not been approached by Jetstar.
"The airport runway is unfortunately 200m shorter as there are limitations to expansion within the cliff but that's not to say [Jetstar] can't come here with reduced load and fuel capacity," he said.
Mr Chubb said Jetstar normally operated bigger aircraft with larger loads on its domestic routes whereas planes that flew to and from Whangarei were mostly 19-seaters.
He said even Air New Zealand had reduced its flights to Whangarei by one or two a day due to the economic downturn.
New Zealand Airports Association chief executive Kevin Ward said this week there was frustration at overall fares and that regional airports would welcome a competitor to Air New Zealand.
He said at least two established airlines operating out of one airport would drive competition up and fares down.
Whangarei deputy mayor Phil Halse said the district needed a bigger airport and that a suitable site should be secured.
"We know that the district will grow so we need a bigger airport and in the right area.
"Short leg flights from Whangarei to Auckland are pretty expansive compared with those that fly transtasman so we need competition to drive fares down," he said.
