A low-cost transtasman airline is the proven model for regional international airports such as Hamilton and Dunedin, Hamilton Airport chief executive Chris Doak says.
Mr Doak made the comments after watching the last Air New Zealand transtasman flight depart from Hamilton on Tuesday.
Both centres were better suited to low-cost carriers, such as the now defunct Freedom Air, he said.
"The Freedom model worked. We have done significant surveys, and they show a low-cost carrier is the right model for a regional airport."
More than one million passengers had flown to and from Hamilton Airport in the past 10 years and "it was a substantial market that can't be ignored", he said.
While airports experienced boom and bust periods, Hamilton was prepared to ride out a period of having no international flights, he said.
"But we are talking with a number of low-cost carriers."
Since the demise of Freedom Air there had been "a phased withdrawal of flights" by Air New Zealand, which made the decision to suspend flights in January.
Last week, Air New Zealand announced it would reduce its transtasman services to Dunedin, resulting in no services to and from the airport for a third of the year.
Dunedin International Airport chief executive John McCall said Hamilton's situation differed from Dunedin's, because of its close proximity to Auckland.
"Air New Zealand has identified there is a market out of Dunedin, albeit a seasonal market."
Mr McCall said he believed Dunedin was not a seasonal market and had proved popular with inbound and outbound transtasman customers, especially under the Freedom model.
While Air New Zealand offered a "superior product", the market was driven by price and the airline competed on price only where it had competition, he said.
Mr McCall said he was optimistic about the future of the airport and would continue to talk with Air New Zealand and other carriers about offering new services from Dunedin.
Pacific Blue spokesman Phil Boeyen said it was difficult times for the airline industry but the company was "always looking for opportunities".
The airline had spoken to Dunedin International Airport representatives, and those representing New Zealand-based international airports, including Hamilton, Palmerston North and Queenstown.
Of those airports, Dunedin was the only one Pacific Blue operated domestic flights from, and the infrastructure was "all there", he said.
