Pacific Blue readies to take off from Hamilton
31-Aug-2009 Celebrations Begin Today For Tomorrow’s Inaugural Hamilton – Sydney Flight.
Pacific Blue starts its new international services from Hamilton this week with celebrations beginning this afternoon when one of the airline's Boeing 737-800 aircraft lands at the city's airport for the first time, in preparation for tomorrow morning's inaugural flight from Hamilton to Sydney.
Six of the region's mayors, including Hamilton City Council Mayor Bob Simcock and Tauranga City Council Mayor Stuart Crosby, will be on this afternoon's special flight from Auckland to Hamilton.
The flight will leave Auckland at 3.45pm and conduct a low-level fly over of Tauranga and Hamilton before landing at Hamilton Airport to a water arch welcome at 4.45pm. The airline said the fly overs were a special event and a unique way of saying thank you to the people of Waikato and the Bay of Plenty who have been supporting the new international services since they were announced in June.
On arrival at Hamilton more than 100 business, aviation, community, travel and tourism industry guests will celebrate at the airport's International Departure Lounge with bubbly and speeches.
Hamilton is the first of three new Pacific Blue international destinations to be launched this week, with services from Dunedin to Brisbane to begin on Thursday and Queenstown-Sydney flights on Saturday. The first Hamilton-Brisbane service will also begin on Saturday.
"Adding three new international destinations in one week requires a lot of work and dedication not only from our own team but also from all our airport and business partners and we're grateful to everyone who has helped to make this happen," said the airline's General Manager Commercial, Adrian Hamilton-Manns.
CEO of Hamilton International Airport Chris Doak said "It'll be great to see the Pacific Blue plane in local skies and to finally see it touch down today at the airport."
Tomorrow the Guests on the inaugural flight from Hamilton to Sydney will enjoy a champagne breakfast at the airport before the aircraft departs at 8.00am. Celebrations will continue on board, including providing all Guests special commemorative t-shirts to mark the occasion.
As part of its Spring Sale, Pacific Blue is currently offering one-way internet fares from Hamilton to Sydney from $149*, and from Hamilton to Brisbane from $189*