Bring back trans-Tasman flights, say Wilson, Lewis
Financial incentives should be used to bring international flights back to Hamilton, says a candidate in the Hamilton City election.
Former councillor and failed airline founder Ewan Wilson said it’s time to rethink the Hamilton Airport as he joined a call from mayoral candidate Lisa Lewis to advocate for the return of international carriers to the Waikato.
Hamilton hasn’t had international flights since Virgin stopped flying out of there in 2012.
Lewis said Hamilton’s twokilometre runway was the third largest in the country and reopening international flights would ease congestion on our roads. Wilson said landing fees could be waived to encourage trans-Tasman flights and flights from the Pacific Islands into Hamilton.
‘‘Ideally, an Australian-based airline who would not only be offering the normal connectivity between either Sydney or Brisbane, which we know can work, but also feeding into a global network,’’ Wilson said.
Capital expenditure is not required, he said. The runway infrastructure is already established and the terminal is fit for purpose – Hamilton Airport had international services for 18 years.
The airport should be positioned better as a strategic asset as a priority, he said, and as the population continues to grow.
‘‘I truly believe Hamilton’s $8 billion economy is directly connected to Auckland’s $80b economy but not for a minute do I think Hamilton can’t leverage its position better and I think attracting international flights would.’’
In September, Air New Zealand said it could be commercially viable to operate a second Auckland airport, with services to Wellington and Christchurch, out of Whenuapai.
‘‘There is a legitimate argument to say, hey Auckland, don’t bother to put in another runway,’’ Wilson said. Let’s have a bigger view of this and say, maybe, Hamilton can position itself as a legitimate alternate.’’
Waikato Regional Airport Limited (WRAL) chief executive Mark Morgan said landing fees make up a small proportion of ticket price.
‘‘Perhaps five to 10 per cent of the ticket price,’’ Morgan said. ‘‘Therefore, removing landing charges is not necessarily a full panacea for an airline to consider flying in and out of Hamilton Airport. There is a much more complex decision making tree around demand, frequency and scheduling that would fit it into a trans-Tasman service.’’
WRAL is a council-controlled organisation, owned by Hamilton City, O¯ torohanga District, Waipa¯ District, Waikato District and Matamata-Piako District councils.
It’s statement of intent directs the company to operate as a regional airport.
‘‘Our statement of intent is quite clear that we are a regional airport and our focus is on regional services,’’ Morgan said.
‘‘There’s a legitimate argument to say, hey Auckland, don’t bother to put in another runway.’’
Ewan Wilson