Hamilton Airport (New Zealand): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:39, 27 December 2005

Latest revision as of 11:25, 22 August 2025

(397 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

''For the airport in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, see [[Hamilton/John C. Munro International Airport]].''

{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2013}}

{{Infobox airport

| name = Hamilton Airport

| nativename = {{nowrap|{{lang|mi|Taunga Waka Rererangi o Kirikiriroa}}}}

| nativename-a =

| nativename-r =

| image = Hamilton Airport NZ logo.png

| image-width =

| caption =

| IATA = HLZ

| ICAO = NZHN

| pushpin_map = New Zealand North Island

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in North Island

| pushpin_label = HLZ

| pushpin_label_position = right

| type = Public

| owner =

| operator = Hamilton Airport

| city-served =

| ___location = [[Waipa District]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-council/council-publications/operativedistrictplan/Pages/Operative-District-Plan-Map.aspx |title=Operative District Plan Maps – Hamilton City Council |publisher=Hamilton.govt.nz |date=2016-04-15 |access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref>

| elevation-f = 172

| elevation-m = 52

| coordinates = {{Coord|37|52|0|S|175|19|55|E|type:airport_region:NZ}}

| website = http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz

| metric-elev = yes

| metric-rwy = yes

| r1-number = 18L/36R

| r1-length-f = 6,754

| r1-length-m = 2,195

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| r2-number = 18R/36L

| r2-length-f = 2,066

| r2-length-m = 630

| r2-surface = Asphalt

| r3-number = 07/25

| r3-length-f = 2,034

| r3-length-m = 720

| r3-surface = Grass

| stat-year =

| stat1-header =

| stat1-data =

| stat2-header =

| stat2-data =

| footnotes =

}}

[[File:Qantas New Zealand Dash 8 Zuppicich-2.jpg|thumb|right|A Qantas New Zealand Dash 8 at Hamilton, September 2000.]]

The '''Hamilton International Airport''' ('''[[IATA]]''': HLZ, '''[[ICAO]]''': NZHN) is a airport located in the [[Waikato]] region, in [[New Zealand]].

[[File:Air New Zealand Link (Mount Cook Airline) ATR 72-200 Zuppicich-2.jpg|thumb|right|A Mount Cook ATR 72-200 in the old Air New Zealand Link colours at Hamilton Airport in 1997]]

[[File:Air Nauru Boeing 737-400 Zuppicich-1.jpg|thumb|right|An Air Nauru Boeing 737-400 operating for Kiwi Air at Hamilton in 1995]]{{Short description|Airport in the Waikato Region of New Zealand}}

'''Hamilton Airport''' {{airport codes|HLZ|NZHN}} is an international airport located 14 kilometres south of the city of [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]] in the [[Waikato]] region, in [[New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.webjet.com.au/airport/hamilton-hlz/|title= Hamilton Domestic & International Airport (HLZ)|access-date= 18 December 2012|archive-date= 10 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210610041451/https://www.webjet.com.au/airport/hamilton-hlz/|url-status= dead}}</ref> It is sited at [[Rukuhia]], which was the name of the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] base on that site during [[World War II]].

== Passenger numbers ==

In the year to 30 June 2011 the airport had 316,000 domestic and 46,000 international passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/page/13-news-media+latest-news-press-releases|title=New services for Hamilton with Barrier Air|work=Hamilton Airport|access-date=24 February 2012|archive-date=13 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113074614/http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/page/13-news-media%20latest-news-press-releases|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017/18 there were 353,000 passengers, all domestic, 54% of them to [[Wellington Airport|Wellington]] and 37% to [[Christchurch Airport|Christchurch]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://wdcsitefinity.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity-storage/docs/default-source/meetings/agendas-2018/181128-sf-agenda-open.pdf?sfvrsn=db4d83c9_0|title=WAIKATO REGIONAL AIRPORT Shareholder update|date=October 2018|website=Waikato District Council}}</ref> Hamilton is the [[List of busiest airports in New Zealand|tenth-busiest airport in New Zealand]] by passenger traffic.

==History==

The airport is on land formerly owned by Samuel Steele (brother of William Steele, who brought [[Settler colonialism|militia-settlers]] from Sydney to Hamilton in 1864)<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/5045995/William-Steele-1831-1898|title=William Steele 1831-1898 |work=Stuff|access-date=2017-09-26}}</ref> from about 1880.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19250704.2.106 |title=Obituary |date=1925-07-04 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=2017-09-26|page=12}}</ref> By 1929 there was a landing ground on the farm,<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19290325.2.41 |title=Light Plane Damaged.|date=1929-03-25|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2017-09-26|page=10}}</ref> though a site close to the city was also considered.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19291002.2.83|title=Airport for Hamilton.|date=1929-10-02|work=[[Auckland Star]] |access-date=2017-09-26|page=7}}</ref> In 1935 Steele's aerodrome was sold for expansion into an airport<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19350220.2.113 |title=Site for Airport|date=1935-02-20|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2017-09-26|page=12}}</ref> and opened by the mayor on 12 October.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19351012.2.27.5 |title=The Waikato Airport at Rukuhia to Be Officially Opened to-Day the Hangar and a Section of the Clubhouse (on Left) at the up-to-Date Airport at Rukuhia. the Airport, Which Has Been Made Available Through the Enterprise of Mr. C. B. Smith, of Hamilton, Will Be Officially Opened to-Day, by the mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, and Sir Alexander Young, Minister of Health.|date=1935-10-12|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2017-09-26 |page=10}}</ref>

As the world prepared for [[World War II]], it became clear that a landing strip had to be built in the Hamilton area. By [[1935]], the air strip was already in service, as a stop over for [[war]] [[airplane]]s that would land after a long journey. Services included [[Fuel|refueling]] as well as [[food]] and rest for the incoming pilots.

As the world prepared for war, it became clear that a landing strip needed to be constructed in the Hamilton area.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} By 1935, the air strip was already in service, as a stopover for military aircraft that would land after a long journey. Services provided refueling as well as food and rest for the incoming pilots.

[[Tourism]] by air began to blossom soon after the war was over, and, in [[1950]], the airport received its first commercial flight.

Travel by air began to blossom soon after the war was over, and, in 1950, the airport received its first commercial flight. The main runway was sealed in 1965, and turboprop flights began to Hamilton that year, with NAC's Fokker Friendship aircraft operating. The runway was further lengthened to accommodate Vickers Viscount, 1970, and ultimately Boeing 737 aircraft types in 1975.

In [[1988]], one of the airport's runways was expanded, to accommodate the increasing number of international flights coming from [[Australia]]

In 1989, the New Zealand government sold the airport to councils representing Hamilton City (50 per cent), [[Waikato District]] (15.625 per cent), [[Waipa District]] (15.625 per cent), [[Matamata-Piako District]] (15.625 per cent) and [[Ōtorohanga District]] (3.125 per cent). This development led to unprecedented growth for the airport.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamilton Airport bosses hit out at Air NZ cuts |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/business/hamilton-airport-bosses-hit-out-air-nz-cuts |access-date=1 May 2020 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |agency=NZPA |date=11 October 2008}}</ref>

In [[1989]], the New Zealand government sold the airport to five private parties. This would prove to be an important deal in the airport's history, as unprecedented growth began for the airport after that.

[[Ansett New Zealand]] built an independent passenger terminal to the south of the main building, equipping it with a [[Ansett Australia#Golden Wing Club|Golden Wing Club]] lounge and food vending machines. The airline's ''Ansett NZ'' division operated flights to Wellington from Hamilton from 1995 until 2000, when Ansett NZ was sold to a New Zealand business consortium and rebranded [[Qantas]] NZ, with their own New Zealand domestic flights division. ''Qantas NZ'' operated at the airport until 2001, when it went into receivership. The terminal was then occupied by [[Origin Pacific]] airlines. This airline operated domestic services until it too went bankrupt in 2006. The small terminal was then left unused.

[[1994]] marked the first year in which the airport became involved in the now famous Trans [[Tasman Sea|Tasman]] air routes, with [[Charter airline|charter]] flights provided on [[Boeing 757]]s by [[Kiwi Travel International Airlines|Kiwi International Airlines of New Zealand]], not to be confused with the [[United States]] based [[Kiwi International Airlines]]. New Zealand's Kiwi, however, went bankrupt in [[1996]], but, by that time, another airline, [[Freedom Air]], had begun flying the same route with [[Boeing 737]] aircraft. Freedomair ultimately decided to make Hamilton International Airport their company hub.

In 1998, [[Hamilton Airport Motor Inn]] was developed to cater for travellers using the airport. It was purchased by the airport company in 2019 and is operated as JetPark Hotel Hamilton Airport & Conference Centre.

In [[1995]], a domestic terminal was opened, to respond to passenger demand for flights from [[Auckland]] and vice-versa. [[Ansett]], with their ''Ansett NZ'' division, operated flights to Auckland from Hamilton from then and until [[2000]], when the Ansett flights were overtaken by [[Qantas]], with their own New Zealand domestic flights division. ''Qantas NZ'' operated at the airport until [[2004]]. Currently, a number of airlines fly the route.

A NZ$15.3 million terminal expansion begun in 2005 featured a 60 per cent increase in floorspace with improved baggage handling areas, better international and domestic check-in space, and passenger security screening. It was completed in late 2007.

In [[1996]], the airport's main terminal was expanded, in hopes of attracting more international airlines.

[[Hugh McCarroll]] becamewas the airport's chief operatingexecutive manager infrom the early [[2000s]] until retirement in February 2006. The current chief executive is Mark Morgan.

===Trans Tasman services===

In 1994, the airport became a terminal for Trans [[Tasman Sea|Tasman]] air routes, with [[Charter airline|charter]] flights provided on [[Boeing 727]]s by [[Kiwi Travel International Airlines]] (not to be confused with the United States–based [[Kiwi International Air Lines]]) which served [[Brisbane]], [[Sydney]] and [[Melbourne]]. New Zealand's Kiwi went bankrupt in 1996, but by that time [[Freedom Air]] had begun flying the same routes and a route to the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] with [[Boeing 737]] and aircraft. They also, briefly, operated flights to Nadi, Fiji, in 2005. Freedom Air ultimately decided to make Hamilton International Airport their company hub until parent company Air New Zealand closed the airline down on 30 March 2008 operating its own full service instead. By then, the [[Airbus A320]] was being operated. When passenger numbers dropped to an unsustainable level in August 2009, Air New Zealand ceased services from Hamilton to Australia. However by that time Virgin Australia operated flights from Hamilton with thrice-weekly Boeing 737-800 flights to Brisbane and Sydney; however, passenger numbers remained low and Virgin Australia ended flights on 27 October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://australianaviation.com.au/2012/08/virgin-to-cut-hamilton-nz-flights-on-slack-demand/|title=Virgin to cut Hamilton NZ flights on slack demand}}</ref> In 2024 Jetstar announced that it would serve Hamilton from Sydney and the Gold Coast using their [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] aircraft from June 2025. On June 16 2025 the first Jetstar plane landed in Hamilton from Sydney and on the 18th June the first Jetstar flight from the Gold Coast landed.

===Flight training===

Hamilton Airport was home to the New Zealand Training Centre of [[L3Harris Technologies|L3Harris]] Airline Academy. L3Harris Airline Academy is the British flight training division of L3Harris that provides freshly trained airline pilots to numerous airlines throughout the world, mainly within the United Kingdom, most notably [[EasyJet]], and also including [[British Airways]], [[Qatar Airways|Qatar]], [[Flybe (1979–2020)|Flybe]], [[Thomson Airways|Thomson]], [[Oman Air|Oman]] and, formerly, [[Thomas Cook Airlines|Thomas Cook]] and [[Monarch Airlines]] among others.

Most of the non-passenger traffic at this airport was generated by L3Harris training flights, in single-engined [[Diamond DA20]] and [[Cessna 172]], and twin-engined [[Diamond DA42]] Twin Star aircraft. The school closed in February 2021, with all training moving to the UK and Portugal. The company cited the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] as a cause, but not the sole reason<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/123290799/covid19-hamilton-flying-school-set-to-close-covid-being-blamed|title=Covid-19: Hamilton flying school set to close, Covid being blamed|date=4 November 2020}}</ref>

The [[Waikato Aero Club]] has been based at Hamilton Airport since 1933. The club provides a full range of flight training from recreational flying in [[Light Sport Aircraft]] through to commercial Multi-Engine IFR.

==Capabilities==

The airport currently accommodates many different types of aircraft, from piston-engined light aircraft to commercial turboprop aircraft such as the [[ATR 72]]. The airport can handle all light business jets as well as 40-to-80-seat regional jets such as the [[Embraer]] [[E195]] and [[Bombardier CRJ200]]. Several airliners can operate from the airport including the 100–200 seat [[Boeing 737]], [[Boeing 757]] and [[Airbus A320]]. The largest aircraft authorised to land at Hamilton is the 150-to-250-seat [[Boeing 767]]. Plans to increase runway length from 2,195m to 3,000m to attract larger aircraft and start Asian regional flights, have been considered.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4314804a34.html |title=Waikato plans flights to Asia |work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]] |access-date=2 October 2011 |archive-date=21 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621075849/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4314804a34.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Currently, the airport can accommodate many different types of jets, including [[Airbus]] [[A300]]'s, as well as the Boeing 737 and 757's. The largest airplanes that are authorized to land at Hamilton are [[Boeing 767]]'s, which are decisively smaller than the [[Boeing 747]]'s or [[A340]]'s, for example.

The airport operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

In August 2011, approval was received by Hamilton International Airport to extend its runway up to 3,000 metres—the same size as secondary airports in other parts of the world, such as the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]. It will finish before 15 years' approval ends.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/company-information/news-media/latest-news/hamilton-airport-runway-approved-to-3000m/ |title=Hamilton Airport runway approved to 3000M |date=12 August 2011 | work=Hamilton Airport}}</ref>

The airport has a single terminal building and six tarmac gates. The apron is capable of accommodating up to five A320 or 737-800 aircraft at once.<ref>{{cite web |title=Facts and figures |url=https://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/company-information/operational-information/aeronautical/ |website=Hamilton Airport |access-date=14 November 2019 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120121832/https://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/company-information/operational-information/aeronautical/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==

The airport operates twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and the airline itself are not independent sources. -->

{{Airport-dest-list

| [[Air New Zealand]] | [[Christchurch Airport|Christchurch]], [[Wellington Airport|Wellington]]

| [[Jetstar]] | [[Gold Coast Airport|Gold Coast]],<ref name="Jetstar">{{cite news |title=Jetstar launches trans-Tasman flights from Dunedin, Hamilton |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/350416057/jetstar-launches-trans-tasman-flights-dunedin-hamilton |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz}}</ref> [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]] <ref name="Jetstar"/>

| [[Originair]] | [[Nelson Airport (New Zealand)|Nelson]], [[Palmerston North Airport|Palmerston North]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Originair, Hamilton Airport prepare to restart regional passenger route |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/122689538/originair-hamilton-airport-prepare-to-restart-regional-passenger-route |access-date=8 September 2020 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz}}</ref>

| [[Sunair]] | [[Gisborne Airport|Gisborne]], [[Hawke's Bay Airport|Napier]], [[Whakatāne Airport|Whakatāne]], [[Whangarei Airport|Whangārei]]<ref>{{cite news |title=The Waikato Times |url=https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/a/nz-news/350258489/sunair-to-bring-flights-to-gisborne--napier--whang-rei |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=www.waikatotimes.co.nz}}</ref>

}}

==AirlinesSee also==

{{Portal|Aviation|New Zealand}}

===Domestic services===

* [[AirList of airports in New Zealand]]

* [[List of airlines of New Zealand]]

*[[Origin Pacific Airways]]

* [[Transport in New Zealand]]

*[[Sun Air]]

* [[List of busiest airports in New Zealand]]

==References==

===International services===

{{Reflist}}

*[[Freedom Air]] (to [[Brisbane]], [[Fiji]], the [[Gold Coast]], [[Melbourne, Australia|Melbourne]] and [[Sydney, Australia|Sydney]]).

==External linklinks==

[http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/main.cfm{{Commons category|Hamilton International Airport's homepage]}}

*[http://www.hamiltonairport.co.nz/ Hamilton Airport website]

{{Airports in New Zealand}}

{{NZauthority Airportscontrol}}

[[Category:Airports in New Zealand]]

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hamilton, New Zealand]]

[[Category:Geography of Hamilton, New Zealand]]

[[Category:Waipa District]]

[[Category:Transport buildings and structures in Waikato]]