Pacific Blue is investigating the chances of establishing domestic flights directly in and out of Tauranga airport.

The announcement comes after the Australian airline announced it was targeting Tauranga customers as part of its new trans-Tasman flights out of Hamilton. Pacific Blue recently trialled 104 seater Brazilian planes in New Zealand, which it wants to use as domestic aircraft.

Initially the airline scheduled the plane to land in Tauranga but plans were changed and the city missed the plane's appearance.

Pacific Blue spokesperson Phil Boeyen says Tauranga is just as viable as Hamilton, in terms of establishing a regular flight schedule here.

'The size of the city is an advantage and there's a good retired population who like visiting Australia frequently,” says Phil.