A project costing $1.5 million to create a 30m takeoff starter extension and reseal the runway was completed in April 2009. The upgrade allowed larger aircraft to land and allowed Air New Zealand, through its subsidiary airline Air Nelson, to trial flights with its Bombardier Q300 aircraft. Daily flights from Auckland commenced in August 2013, growing in time to be the predominant aircraft used on the Auckland route before becoming the sole aircraft used in 2014. In August 2011, the previously weight restricted ATR 72 aircraft made its first commercial service to Whangarei Airport on charter from Gisborne, however the aircraft type has not returned since.