NZ airport pulls an all-nighter as it readies for hopeful Aussie invasion
Friday, 7 March 2025
It was all systems go at Hamilton Airport this week as it readies for a hopeful flood of trans-Tasman passengers.
Jetstar will commence services to Sydney and the Gold Coast from June. They will be the first scheduled international flights from Hamilton in 13 years, when Virgin Australia stopped flying.
It means a new international departure hall at the airport and on Wednesday there were some major upgrades overnight.
Peeling open a 60m square hole in the roof, crews placed two X-ray screening machines, feeder belts, a body scanner and other screening equipment inside. The roof was then sealed back up and two air conditioning units were added on top.
Work started at 7pm and finished at 5am ahead of the first flights of the morning.
Hamilton Airport chief executive Mark Morgan said everything went according to plan, including the weather.
“We needed the crane gone from the airport apron, where planes park, before flights arrived so timing was key,” said Morgan.
“It was a tight, logistical exercise involving builders, roofers, crane operators, air conditioning contractors and our own team and it went well. Even the weather played ball.”
The airport is pumping $5 million into refurbishing its northern passenger terminal. There is still one big piece of equipment to come - the baggage carousel is currently being shipped to New Zealand from India.
Jetstar will offer three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast, and four return flights per week between Hamilton and Sydney.
Last September the airline also announced flights from Dunedin to the Gold Coast. Dunedin’s last international flight, a Virgin Australia service to Brisbane, was suspended in 2020 due to the global pandemic but never resumed.
Flight JQ190 will depart Dunedin for the Gold Coast on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 3.45pm from June 24, 2025, arriving in Australia at 5.25pm local time.
Hamilton’s flights to the Gold Coast will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 12.30pm, arriving in Queensland at 2.20pm from June 18. Flights to Sydney will begin on June 16 and operate four times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday departing at 12.05pm on JQ166.
Jetstar will use its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft for the flights.
Meanwhile, international arrivals to Christchurch will be greeted by brand new artwork aimed at showcasing “the rich narratives of Te Waipounamu/South Island”.
The 18-month project was led by Ariki Creative in collaboration with ChristchurchNZ, Tourism New Zealand, and Ngāi Tahu.
The artwork covers more than 300 square metres and features light boards, floor-to-ceiling pillars, wall murals and a 40-metre-long glass balustrade depicting the cultural and historic time-line of the South Island.
Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson said the artwork “transforms” the experience of international arrivals.
“They provide a meaningful welcome for visitors, a sense of homecoming for Kiwis, and a deep connection to the stories that shape this region,' said Watson.
Liz Kereru of Whitiora, Ngāi Tūāhuriri who played a key role in guiding the project, said the murals honour both the past and the future.
“They are a powerful reflection of the stories, traditions, and guardianship of this place.”