The Eagle has landed

Wairarapa's long-held dream of having an Air New Zealand passenger service was yesterday realised as more than 300 cheering spectators welcomed the first flight to Masterton's Hood Aerodrome.
Dignitaries onboard the 19-seat Beech plane erupted into applause as the pilot announced the three words "welcome to Masterton".
Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell, who officially opened Hood's new terminal shortly after stepping off the plane, was taken aback by the 300-plus turnout, having expected just more than a handful.
"Today Air New Zealand and their subsidiary Eagle Air are here to provide direct link between Masterton and Auckland, and so to the rest of New Zealand and also the rest of the world," he told the assembly. I am sure all here wish the new venture every success and acknowledge the benefit to the Wairarapa and the great potential for the region from the perspective of business, family and tourism that the new service affords."
The service officially started this morning with the first Eagle Air departure from Masterton at 7.05am.
Among the 19 passengers who joined Mr Daniell on the brief but historic flight from Palmerston North was Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee, Wairarapa MP John Hayes, Eagle Air general manager Grant Kerr and representatives from Destination Wairarapa, WBS and Trust House.
Mr Hayes said the new service is a "fantastic" prospect for people from Eketahuna to Ngawi. "It's going to plug our tourism and business straight into the Auckland market.
"It's going to be a real boost for our area at a time when the recession is beginning to bite, and I congratulate Garry and his councillors for getting behind this service and making it happen."
Mr Kerr said he is proud Eagle Air is able to extend its regional operations despite the tough economic climate and was humbled by the hard work Masterton had put in. "We've been blown away by the enthusiastic response we've had from the Wairarapa region and look forward to building a strong new route between Masterton and Auckland over the coming months."
He said there are several private and public sector businesses in Masterton with strong connections in Auckland, with feedback on the new service from business travellers already "very positive".
Yesterday's milestone in the Eagle Air saga came just over a year after the Times-Age first reported Masterton District Council was in talks with the service.
Confirmation didn't arrive until September, when Mr Daniell and Eagle Air jointly announced the start date for the service, as well as the $1.17 million project of upgrading the aerodrome and building the terminal.
"Those with business arrangements in Auckland or offshore now have a direct link which does not involve a 4am start to catch a plane to Auckland from either Palmerston North or Wellington," Mr Daniell said.
"Instead it's just a few minutes drive to an airport where parking is free and the queues short. Barely an hour later and you're there."