Hamilton International Airport has been given approval to extend its runway another 800 metres within the next 15 years.
If the 2200-metre runway was extended the airport would be more attractive for international long-haul wide-bodied aircraft.
The airport company says its vision is to become a low-cost secondary gateway for New Zealand, similar to the Gold Coast Airport in Australia.
The company says it has no immediate plans to extend the runway but the 15-year timeframe allows it to plan with some certainty.
