Auckland Airport traffic boosted from Asia

Visitors from Asia drive traffic volumes through Auckland Airport

July 23 (BusinessDesk) – Auckland International Airport Ltd., New Zealand’s busiest gateway, is benefiting from a rebound in passengers from Asia, suggesting the region’s population is more confident to fly with the end of the swine flu pandemic.

Total international passengers climbed 5.5% to 553,769 in June from a year earlier, the company said in a statement to the NZX today. Domestic passengers rose 4.3% to 477,018.

Arrivals from Japan more than doubled, soaring 115% to 4,957, visitors from China jumped 105% to 5,221 and guests from South Korea gained 34% to 3,582. Volumes of traffic from Australia, the biggest source of visitors, rose 3.1% to 43,561. The U.S. and U.K. again showed a weakening trend, with 10.5% fewer Americans at 9,619 and British visitors falling 18% to 5,777.

The World Health Organisation is expected to declare the swine flu pandemic is over after advice from an experts’ panel.

Shares of Auckland Airport gained 1.6% to $1.95, trimming their decline this year to 3.7%. The company is rated ‘outperform,’ based on the consensus of nine recommendations compiled by Reuters. The airport company has been investing outside of its home base in Auckland, buying quarter stakes in North Queensland's Cairns and Mackay airports and Queenstown Airport Corp. with the idea of drumming up more traffic.

Visitors to New Zealand who gave business/conference as their purpose rose 16% to 39,440, outpacing those who came for a holiday, which rose about 17% to 37,400. Passengers visiting friends or relatives climbed 2.1% to 32,800 and travelers for medical or educational reasons fell 1% to 5,940.

(BusinessDesk)

© Scoop Media