Hamilton Airport is flying high

People of the mighty Waikato and further beyond have woken up to the fact that Hamilton Airport is one of the region’s quiet achievers as well as one of its most strategic assets.

We’ve hit the news recently, all on the ‘good news’ side of ledger. In late February we announced a 13 per cent increase in passengers across our three core routes (Wellington, Christchurch and Palmerston North) during the 2017 year. More than 335,000 people travelled through our gates last year and based on what we’re seeing already in 2018, that trend is only set to continue.  

Preliminary analysis for January and February shows that in terms of passenger numbers, we’re already 12 per cent ahead compared to the previous year. That’s a pleasing trend and given Hamilton and the Waikato’s strong economic growth, as well as its growing tourism and conference market, I’m confident that will continue.

There are also some very specific reasons why more and more people are choosing to fly in and out of Hamilton. One of them is the growing number of flights on key routes. In early April, Air New Zealand introduced an extra weekly flight to and from Wellington. The extra flight means there are now 51 direct flights between Hamilton and the capital each week. 

With that extra capacity comes competitive fares. Fares to Wellington have been as low as $19 and that’s pushing up demand, particularly from leisure travellers.

Anecdotally, Hamilton Airport is also winning from Auckland’s traffic congestion. For many travellers, particularly business travellers, time is money. Travellers tell us they’re no longer willing to roll the dice and hope they don’t get caught up in Auckland’s congestion. Given the competitive fares and range of flights on offer, they say it makes good business sense to fly in and out of Hamilton – and I agree!

However, for some travellers, Hamilton Airport itself is now the location. Our on-site café, Mavis, opened at the terminal in 2016 and has cemented its outstanding reputation.  We offer up to two hours’ free parking when you spend $15 in the café.  For plane buffs, lunch at the airport while watching flights move in and out, is a great option.  

Others are choosing to stay at the terminal longer, taking advantage of our on-site meeting room facilities. Within our terminal building we’ve got six fully-equipped rooms for hire. They can be configured in a range of ways to suit all groups and functions. 

Hamilton Airport is continuing to stretch its wings in other parts of our business.  In January, we announced our purchase of the Hamilton Airport Hotel and Conference Centre.  The purchase including the acquisition of all buildings and the ground lease as well as the existing hotel and conference business.  The existing operators, Hamilton Airport Hotel Ltd, will continue to operate the hotel and conference centre until at least January next year.

The purchase is in line with one of WRAL’s strategic objectives; to grow our non-aeronautical revenue stream.  Which brings us to Titanium Park, which is also going well. 

The Park, established in 2009, has immediate access to not just Hamilton Airport, but local and national highway connections (including the Waikato Expressway), Mystery Creek and all of the Waikato’s major business interests.  

The location of Titanium Park allows businesses to capitalise on the region’s forecast growth and on its emerging strength as a major freight and logistics centre.  A number of land packages are available at Titanium Park and it’s great to see ongoing and sustained interest in what’s on offer.

In summary, the future for Hamilton Airport is looking very bright. The Airport’s holding company, Waikato Regional Airport Ltd (WRAL) owns a 100-hectare farm boarding the Airport, ensuring the aerodrome is future proofed for both aeronautical and non-aeronautical opportunities.  

You could almost say…..Hamilton Airport is flying high.