and upgraded, with a second storey added containing a Koru Club regional lounge and a conference room. In March 2000, Origin Pacific Airways commenced flights between Tauranga and Auckland with a 19-seat BAE Jetstream 32 aircraft. From September 2002, following several reductions in frequency, this service was replaced by flights to Hamilton, where passengers could connect to other Origin Pacific Airways flights to destinations including Auckland and Wellington. Eventually this service too was cut, but in June 2006, Origin Pacific Airways returned to Tauranga with services to Christchurch with a 28-seat BAE Jetstream 41 aircraft. This was the airport's first regular non-stop flight to the South Island, but it ceased two months after its commencement, in August 2006, when Origin Pacific Airways ended its passenger services. In October 2007, Air New Zealand launched flights to Christchurch, operated by its subsidiary Air Nelson, to supplement its existing flights to Auckland and Wellington which were operated by both Air Nelson and Eagle Airways. Those subsidiaries were operated by a 50-seat Bombardier Q300 and a 19-seat Beech 1900D aircraft. Air New Zealand used to operate a 33-seat Saab 340A aircraft from Auckland and Wellington but then the Saab 340A was replaced by the Bombardier Q300. In 2010 the airport undertook a further expansion of the terminal which took 6 months, and included larger check in and baggage claim areas as well as an expansion of the terminal by 830 square metres. The apron was also expanded to allow a fourth parking spot for overnight aircraft. In January 2013, Air New Zealand started using its subsidiary Mount Cook Airlines, which operates 68 seat ATR 72 aircraft on selected flights. During 2016 the short lived Kiwi Regional Airlines served Tauranga from Dunedin via Nelson with a 34-seat Saab 340A aircraft. In June 2022 Barrier Air announced a new air service from Tauranga to Great Barrier Island which commenced in December, the route is operated by a Cessna Grand Caravan airplane. Operations Air New Zealand is the major operator and serves the airport through its regional subsidiaries Mount Cook Airline and Air Nelson using ATR 72 and Bombardier Q300 aircraft respectively. Currently there are up to nine daily flights to Auckland, five daily flights to Wellington and three daily flights to Christchurch all operated under the Air New Zealand Link brand. Barrier Air also operates from Tauranga to Claris on Great Barrier Island with a Cessna