The Aussies are landing

Monday, 16 June 2025

Jetstar’s first flight from Sydney is expected to land at Hamilton Airport at 11.15 on Monday morning. It’s the first international flight to land here in 13 years.

At 11.15am today the first Jetstar flight from Sydney will land at Hamilton Airport opening the Waikato up to Australia and beyond for the first time in more than a decade.

Gone are the days of long, traffic-jammed drives to Auckland, over the top parking fees, marathon walks to departure gates, and $14 sausage rolls at Auckland Airport.

Travellers will welcome easier access to the central North Island’s tourism wonderland, as well as the sights and sounds of Australia’s biggest city, and the sun and surf of the Gold Coast.

Waikato Regional Airport (Hamilton Airport) chief executive Mark Morgan said his team were ‘exhausted but ecstatic’ after months of preparation for the return of international flights.

Jetstar flight JQ165 from Sydney will off load its passengers in Hamilton before heading back across the ditch marking the start of Jetstar’s new seven flights a week service out of Hamilton.

The three return flights to and from the Gold Coast, and four return flights between Hamilton and Sydney, heralds a new dawn for trans-Tasman air services, said Hamilton Airport chief executive Mark Morgan, who was on the inaugural flight from Sydney on Monday morning.

He said the team behind the rebirth of Hamilton’s international airport were “exhausted but ecstatic”.

Hamilton Airport's new international terminal is up and running with the first Jetstar flight from Sydney arriving on Monday morning.

“This is a huge day, it’s momentous. It’s been almost 13 years since Hamilton was an international airport. That’s a long time between drinks, but we are absolutely ready to go.”

VIPs and travellers will be greeted by Hobbits handing out ginger beer, Zealong Tea, locally made chocolate, and people in wetsuits from Waitomo Caves.

There will be a short ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new terminal’s opening, and Te Awamutu Intermediate School’s kapa haka roopu (group) will welcome passengers as they walk through arrival gates.

About 150 guests are expected to watch the flight arrive, including acting Minister of Transport James Meager, and Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard.

Jetstar’s Airbus A320-232 will service both the Hamilton to Sydney and the Hamilton to Gold Coast services.

They will be joined by regional tourism heads from around the North Island, Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully, Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, and Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan.

“We couldn’t be prouder, or more excited to put Hamilton back on an international flight path,” Morgan said.

Jetstar flights will add capacity for more than 100,000 international passengers each year and pour an estimated $45 million into the Waikato economy annually.

“More than 60 new airport-based jobs have already been created and the tourism spend is expected to open the door for around 300 new jobs around the region.”

Regional tourism operators in the Bay of Plenty and Taupō are preparing for an influx of Australians with Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan saying his team had begun work with Hamilton & Waikato Tourism to strengthen their new Explore central North Island ties.

“Any international gateway into the regions can only be a good thing for Tauranga and the Bay, and the fact we've got Jetstar putting their best foot forward is going to be really useful for us, particularly as we try to attract more people to our part of the country.”

Nathan said visitors would find the Hamilton service would give them more time in, and easier access to, the tourism hubs of Rotorua and Taupō as well.

Destination Great Lake Taupō general manager Patrick Dault said with Hamilton Airport only a 90-minute drive from Taupō it will make the service a “convenient gateway for international visitors keen to explore the region”.

“With this kind of access, everyone over the ditch can spend less time travelling and more time enjoying everything Taupō has to offer.”

Hamilton Airport has built a new duty-free store, a new café, a new departure lounge, and 300 new carparks as part of its preparations for the Aussie influx.

Morgan said there were many advantages to flying into Hamilton, including a better customer experience, a brand new terminal, cheaper parking just a two-minute walk from the terminal, faster customs processing, cheaper food and beverages, and a short 4km trip to the expressway.

Jetstar has marked occasion by offering discounted fares from just $150 one way from Hamilton to Sydney, and $182 one way from Sydney to Hamilton with the airline’s chief executive Stephanie Tully saying it was exciting to be further expanding Jetstar’s New Zealand network.

“This year, we’re celebrating 20 years of international flying from New Zealand and 16 years of domestic operations - transforming the country’s aviation industry along the way.

“We know Kiwi travellers love our low fares and see huge potential for even more growth in the future.”