Why they flew back

The sucker punch for the return of international flights to Hamilton Airport came earlier this year when Hamilton became the country’s fastest growing city.

With Waikato already the third fastest growing region after Auckland and Otago, the potential was compelling for Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways.

A catchment of 1.4 million people within 90 minutes of Hamilton Airport.

And an expat population in Australia which saw the benefits of flying into Hamilton within hours by getting into the queue for a 24-hour sale which went gang busters on both sides of the Tasman.

So, while it appeared to be the best kept secret in town when Jetstar last month announced it would offer three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast and four between Hamilton and Sydney, it was only a matter of time.

It will not be the same model as those heady days of no frills ‘Peanuts and Cola’ class fares offered by Kiwi Air out of Hamilton in the mid-90s. A lot has changed in the aviation industry since then.

Trans-Tasman three day a week commercial flights out of Hamilton to Brisbane ended in 2012 when Virgin Australia announced low passenger numbers had resulted in the decision.

Twelve years on what is the difference?

Population is the biggie with 22 per cent of the country’s population on Hamilton Airport’s doorstep, a fast growing regional economy, development growth and the Waikato Expressway.

Waikato has also gained the tag of New Zealand’s hidden gem with world-famous attractions such as the Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo Caves, Hamilton Gardens and Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.

A paper presented to Jetstar showed only eight per cent would choose Auckland Airport if price and destination was right at Hamilton.