History
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On This Page:
- Airport History
- Domestic Services
- Trans-Tasman Airline Operations
- Terminal Expansion
- General Aviation
- Book on Airport History
Airport History
Prior to 1935 the airport started out as a "flying paddock", later serving as a maintenance base for aircraft during World War II before scheduled domestic passenger services commenced in the early 1950s.
Waikato Regional Airport Limited was formed in 1989 when the airport was sold by the crown to five local council authorities - Hamilton City Council, Waipa, Waikato, Matamata-Piako and Otorohanga District Councils.
Hamilton airport has grown rapidly since then with the introduction of international operations in 1996 and extensions to the terminal building and runway to cater for increased services.
In the last ten years over 1 million people have flown internationally through HIA and 2.7 million have flown domestically.
Domestic Services
The airport began domestic services in the early 1950s. A further domestic terminal was built in 1995 when Ansett NZ commenced scheduled services from Hamilton Airport.
Qantas NZ took over the Ansett operation in September 2000 and closed in April 2001.
Origin Pacific was operating daily services to Nelson until August 2006.
Today Air New Zealand and Sun Air offer domestic travel connections to destinations throughout NZ.
Trans-Tasman Airline Operations
International services began in 1994 when Kiwi International conducted a series of charter flights. They went on to run scheduled flights from April 1995 to September 1996.
K2000 operated trans-Tasman flights from Hamilton from December 1999 to January 2000.
Freedom Air International provided trans-Tasman flights from December 1995 until April 2008 when parent company Air New Zealand took over these services. These services to Australia concluded in late April 2009.
Pacific Blue began services on the 1st of September 2009 and now provides travellers with 4 direct services a week to Brisbane, Australia and connections to Asia and beyond. Click here for more information about these services.
Terminal Expansion
The most recent terminal redevelopment was completed in December 2007 after 3 years of planning and 18 months of construction.
The new terminal now houses a wider range of food and beverage offerings, sealed car parking facilities, improved retail experiences and increased efficiency with more check-in counters and internal baggage carousels.
Finishing on time and on budget, the $15.5 million upgrade, which was opened by Maori King Tuheitia and the Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Helen Clark, has been deemed a success by the shareholders, the public and industry bodies alike.
General Aviation/Industrial Development
The western side of the airfield is the home of general aviation users and hosts a small industrial estate with airside access.
Eagle Air, Aeromotive, Hamilton Aero Maintenance, Rotocraft, Alpha Aviation, Waikato Aero Club, Airways Corporation, Pacific AeroSpace, CTC Aviation Training New Zealand and Super Air provide valuable maintenance services for the aviation industry.
The Waikato Aviation Cluster is also based at HIA. The Cluster is an amalgamation of approximately 30 Waikato aviation businesses who have the vision to become the Australasian centre for light aircraft manufacturing, maintenance and pilot training. For more information about the Cluster please click here .
Book on Airport History
If you wish to obtain a copy of the publication "Rukuhia - The Growth of Hamilton's International Airport" contact Colin Zuppicich:
P. +64 7 855 9409
E. colin.zuppicich "at" xtra.co.nz
