Chinese arrivals rocket at Auckland airport, total pax fall

Chinese arrivals rocketing at Auckland airport, but total passengers fall

By Hannah Lynch

June 25 (BusinessDesk) - Auckland International Airport, which is targeting Asian arrivals to stoke growth over the next decade, saw a 44.4 percent increase in Chinese arrivals in May over the same month last year, even as international passenger numbers fell.

Total international passenger movements, stripping out transits, fell 2.9 percent to 500,064 in May from a year earlier, the airport said in a statement. Chinese arrivals jumped 44.4 percent to 12,443. China was New Zealand's second largest inbound market behind Australia for the third month in a row.

The airport said the overall decline in international arrivals was attributed to an easing in services to and from Asia and Australia and the scheduled exit by Qantas on the Auckland to Los Angeles route.

Domestic passenger movements rose 4.4 percent to 439,195 in May, compared to May last year.

There was strong domestic growth across the whole group, with 25 percent-owned Queenstown Airport rising 13.6 percent to 59,567.

The Auckland gateway airport also has stakes in Australia’s Cairns and Mackay airports. Cairns reported a 5.4 percent increase to 259,245 in domestic passengers, while Mackay climbed 18.9 percent to 96,164.

Shares in Auckland airport have shed about 5 percent this year and are currently trading at $2.41.

(BusinessDesk)

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