WRAL's Mark Morgan and Barry Harris and the Hamilton Airport team celebrate today’s announcement. Photo / Stephen Barker
Champagne corks are popping across the Waikato today with confirmation that direct flights between Hamilton Airport and Australia are back.
Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, has announced it will offer three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast and four return flights per week between Hamilton and Sydney. The first flights will take off in June 2025, in time for the New Zealand school holidays.
The trans-Tasman commercial flights will be the first out of Hamilton in 13 years. The final Virgin Australia flight flew from Hamilton to Brisbane on October 27, 2012, ending 18 years of trans-Tasman flights.
Waikato Regional Airport Ltd (WRAL) chief executive Mark Morgan said today’s celebration comes after more than a year of “solid grind” by his team negotiating with the airline and border agencies.
“It’s been hard, complex work, in a very sensitive commercial environment and we are thrilled to have pulled this off. 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. That’s fantastic for everyone; this is not just about the airport, it’s a great day for the region.”
The Jetstar flights will see more than 100,000 more passengers per year using Hamilton Airport, some for business and some on holiday, leading to the creation of around 60 new airport-based jobs.
Jetstar Group chief executive Stephanie Tully said the airline was excited to be further expanding its network in Aotearoa.
“We’re in a period of unparalleled growth for Jetstar in New Zealand, launching five new routes in the past three months and providing greater low-fares connections to key regions across the country.”
“As the country’s only low-cost airline, Jetstar provides critical competition in New Zealand and helps keep travel affordable for Kiwis, with one million domestic fares selling for less than $100 in the past year alone. With consistently low fares and improved reliability, there’s never been a better time to give Jetstar a go.
“We thank Hamilton and Dunedin Airports for their ongoing support of low fares travel for Kiwis. It’s through strong partnerships like these that we’re able to grow our network in New Zealand.”
Hamilton Airport will refit its northern terminal in preparation for customs, border control, aviation security and other services needed for international flights.
“We have most of the building services and fundamentals already in place following our seismic strengthening and refurbishment project completed in 2022. There is some work to do, but we did future-proof the building to the extent we could. So the work required is not major and will begin in November this year with no disruption to customers,” Morgan said.
The aircraft used on the trans-Tasman routes will be a 188-seater A320 Neo. He confirmed there was no requirement to change the runway to accommodate the services.
“The size of our runway has never been a barrier to trans-Tasman flights.”
WRAL chairman Barry Harris said he was extraordinarily proud of what the WRAL team had achieved.
“There has been a lot of moving parts to this on both sides of the Tasman and it’s taken a lot to pull it together. We congratulate Mark’s team for what they have achieved and congratulate Jetstar, too, for recognising the Waikato represents a huge opportunity.
“Hamilton Airport is in good shape financially and that’s allowed us to identify opportunities and go after them. The resurrection of international fights is great for the airport but more importantly, it’s great for the wider region and for the travelling public.”
Hamilton and Waikato Tourism general manager Nicola Greenwell was jubilant today.
“This is fantastic news, brilliant. Australian visitors already account for 19 per cent of our international visitor spend in the region. Now, with direct flights into Hamilton Kirikiriroa we become even more accessible and this is fantastic news for the mighty Waikato, for the central North Island and beyond,” Greenwell said.
“This, on top of the recent announcement of two new hotels for Kirikiriroa, means the future of the visitor sector for our region is bright.”
Once flights begin Jetstar will become the fourth airline using Hamilton Airport for scheduled flights. Other carriers include Air New Zealand, Sunair and Originair.
Waikato Regional Airport Ltd is a council-controlled organisation owned by Hamilton City, Ōtorohanga, Waipā, Waikato and Matamata-Piako District Councils and is the umbrella for subsidiary companies Hamilton Airport, Jet Park Hotel Hamilton Airport, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism (HWT) and Titanium Park Ltd.
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate has welcomed the news.
“This is a huge win for our city and region. Air travel plays a major role in economic and social connectivity, and this will open up Hamilton to Australia and the world,” said Southgate.
“I’m sure Hamiltonians will be excited to have direct access across the ditch. But this will also give our local economy a tremendous boost, by creating jobs, opening up business opportunities, and bringing tourists here to eat, play and stay in our city and region.”
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan has cheered on the announcement.
The mayors said 65,000 additional travellers inbound to Hamilton Airport are anticipated, which would see the creation of about 60 new airport-based jobs and a further 300 jobs in the wider region.
“We could all do with some good news so I’m absolutely stoked – really thrilled,” O’Regan said.
“I know the team at the airport have been working hard to pull a complex commercial deal together and they’ve done it.
“Congratulations to them because all of us will benefit from flights in and out of the airport which is, after all, in our district.”
O’Regan admitted her enthusiasm for the new Jetstar routes was also personal.
“I’ve got family in Australia and we all know it’s a lot easier and cheaper to visit them when an international airport is just down the road.”
“It avoids the travel and parking in Auckland and means that coming home is just a short drive from the terminal to my couch. I love it!”
Waikato’s economy is the biggest winner from today’s announcement that international flights will resume from Hamilton Airport in 2025, said Waikato Chamber of Commerce CEO Don Good.
Good said the trans-Tasman flights were a big win for the region that was already outperforming many other parts of the country. The expected $45 million economic boost was welcome news for Waikato businesspeople, as well as travellers, he said.
“Of course, Waikato hospitality and tourism venues are going to put out the welcome mat for 65,000 more inbound tourists, all wanting to spend on attractions, food and accommodation.
“Given the development of the Mistry Centre 5-star Pullman Hotel in Ward St next to Centreplace and the recently announced Double Tree by Hilton Hotel being built in just off the Expressway in Cambridge, these new flight connections will land at the right time for those investments.
“But it’s also about our export businesses, so I’m very pleasantly surprised to hear about the Sydney flights. It means you can fly direct to Sydney, do business in a market of 5 million plus consumers, head up to the Gold Coast for a few days break, and then head home. That commitment to Sydney is a big plus.
“Time is money and by flying out of Hamilton, you’ll be halfway across the Tasman before you even get to Auckland Airport.”
Good said the commitment from Jetstar would have been well researched and reinforces Waikato’s position as New Zealand’s logistics capital.
“I expect Mark Morgan and the WRAL team put up a very strong economic case and worked pretty hard to get this across the line. They would have reinforced the fact that the Waikato has a very good economic opportunity story to sell.
“The airport is extremely well positioned as a gateway to New Zealand. We have 2.6 million people living within the Golden Triangle and the Waikato Expressway connects us easily and quickly.”
He said today’s announcement reinforced the airport’s strong leadership and governance.
“From the region’s point of view, the airport is an absolute gem in the Waikato logistics crown, and councils should just let it get on with doing what it does well. This announcement is great news for the Waikato.”
The Hamilton announcement by Jetstar was part of a major expansion of its New Zealand operations, unlocking more than 190,000 new low fare seats every year and injecting millions of dollars into the country’s tourism economy.
A second new service was also announced, from Dunedin to the Gold Coast, also from June 2025 using Jetstar’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.
It will be the first time Jetstar has flown to and from Hamilton and the first time the low-cost carrier will operate international flights to and from Dunedin.
It is Jetstar’s second major expansion in New Zealand in just three months, as the airline embarks on its most significant expansion in the country in more than 10 years.
To celebrate the news, Jetstar has launched a 24-hour Route Launch Sale with sale fares available at Jetstar.com ranging from Hamilton to Sydney - $130, Hamilton to the Gold Coast - $139 and Dunedin to the Gold Coast - $155.
Hamilton - Sydney flights will be on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Hamilton to the Gold Coast on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday and Dunedin to the Gold Coast on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Three people were on board the boat when it got into trouble off the Pātea coast.