Auckland Airport international passengers rise 4.8% in Jan.

Auckland Airport international passengers rise 4.8% in January

By Paul McBeth

March 7 (BusinessDesk) – Auckland International Airport Ltd., the country’s major gateway, lifted the number of international passengers by 4.8% in January, making up for a decline in domestic travellers that month.

The increase in international passenger movements to 687,996 from 656,380, excluding transits, in January was underpinned by short-haul traffic from across the Tasman and the Pacific Islands, and followed on from December’s 6.1% gain. The introduction of China Airlines’ new service also added to the international growth.

Domestic passengers fell 7.8% to 449,022 in the month, and the airport had 2.7% fewer local aircraft movements from the same month a year earlier. The decline comes since Virgin Blue pulled the plug on the New Zealand market.

Last month, Auckland Airport reported better than expected earnings, with first-half profit up 21% to $65.5 million on the back of increasing visitor numbers from Asia.

Queenstown Airport reported a 75% lift in international passenger movements to 18,105, and a 3.1% gain in domestic passengers to 72,925. Auckland Airport holds a 25% stake in the Queenstown gateway.

Cairns Airport lifted total passengers 11% to 252,946, and Mackay Airport lifted domestic passengers 25% to 90,512 in the period.

Auckland Airport’s shares gained 0.9% to $2.28 in trading today, and have increased 3.7% this year.

(BusinessDesk)

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