During World War II the airport was taken over by the Defence Department for Royal New Zealand Air Force training.[2] During the Auckland lockdown in August 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Air New Zealand operated a direct service from Kerikeri to Wellington between September and December 2021.[3] In 2008, Salt Air began twice daily flights to North Shore Aerodrome in Auckland with a Cessna Caravan, utilising the Northern Busway to transport passengers to the city centre traffic free.The North Shore service was sold to Flight Hauraki (now Air Auckland) in 2012, before being dropped in February 2013 by the airline, less than three months after it was taken over.The new $4.75 million terminal opened on 16 June 2019 with improved arrivals and departures, baggage screening and luggage collection facilities.