NZ airport pulls an all-nighter as it readies for hopeful Aussie invasion

It was all systems go at Hamilton Airport this week as it readies for a hopeful flood of trans-Tasman passengers. Jetstar will commence services to Sydney and the Gold Coast from June. They will be the first scheduled international flights from Hamilton in 13 years, when Virgin Australia stopped flying. It means a new international departure hall at the airport and on Wednesday there were some major upgrades overnight. Peeling open a 60m square hole in the roof, crews placed two X-ray screening machines, feeder belts, a body scanner and other screening equipment inside. The roof was then sealed back up and two air conditioning units were added on top.<br/>Work started at 7pm and finished at 5am ahead of the first flights of the morning. Hamilton Airport CE Mark Morgan said everything went according to plan, including the weather. “We needed the crane gone from the airport apron, where planes park, before flights arrived so timing was key,” said Morgan. “It was a tight, logistical exercise involving builders, roofers, crane operators, air conditioning contractors and our own team and it went well. Even the weather played ball.” The airport is pumping $5m into refurbishing its northern passenger terminal. There is still one big piece of equipment to come - the baggage carousel is currently being shipped to New Zealand from India. Jetstar will offer three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast, and four return flights per week between Hamilton and Sydney.<br/>