Tauranga and Hamilton airports will work together from September 1 to promote international flights out of Hamilton - with tourism spin-offs for both regions.


Australian tourists will fly directly into Hamilton airport in a few months on Pacific Blue, which will have economic benefits for the Bay of Plenty.

The low cost airline, Pacific Blue, begins services to Hamilton on September 1. In return for promoting its international airport, Hamilton will promote Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty as a destination to Australian tourists from Sydney and Brisbane.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby endorses Pacific Blue flights out of Hamilton because of the benefit in attracting more international visitors to Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.
"What we want is a growing domestic operation with easy access to international flights just an hour or so away," says Stuart.
"It makes sense for Tauranga as one of New Zealand's largest and growing cities to endorse Hamilton airport and avoid unnecessary duplication of investments in assets."
Pacific Blue has committed to airfares from Hamilton to Australia.
Hamilton Airport is now seeking resource consent to extend its runway to almost 3000 metres. This will allow it to handle wide-bodied jets to destinations beyond Australia, when demand is there.
This follows a recent $15.5 million redevelopment of the terminal and a capital injection of $12 million by the airportπs five shareholders.