Foot Traffic Volumes Enhance Airport Appeal

16th April, 2008

For Immediate Release

Foot Traffic Volumes Enhance Airport Appeal

Rapid growth in passenger and foot traffic is making Christchurch International Airport one of the country’s most appealing sites to companies and organisations using targeted outdoor advertising campaigns.

Christchurch is New Zealand’s fastest growing airport, and to support its growth the domestic and international terminals are currently undergoing a $195 million upgrade and extension project

Well over five million passengers and eight million visitors are now passing through the airport each year giving it potentially record breaking advertising frequency says APN Outdoor General Manager, Phil Clemas.

“We knew it was one of the top three outdoor contracts available in New Zealand when we won the contract last year,” said Mr Clemas, “but the numbers have turned out to be phenomenal.

“Passengers numbers were more than 5.5 million in the year to February 2008 according to the Airport’s own reported figures and another 1.5 non passengers per passenger transit the airport as they meet arrivals or see people off. That’s 14 million commuters per annum.

“Passenger foot traffic grew by 4.8% in 2007 – double the rate of Auckland Airport’s growth. Growth of Christchurch passenger numbers is expected to peak at almost 8% in the next four years. When you add that to the 70 plus locations we have available around the airport, they are hugely attractive numbers and opportunities for our advertisers.”

Mr Clemas said a good example of the impact available to advertisers was the campaign featuring a simulated room at Hotel So. The Christchurch-based hotel picked up more than 1000 leads from its airport campaign.

“Almost 35% of foot traffic is business traffic and the South Island is New Zealand’s most popular tourist destination with Christchurch the gateway to the South. We have multiple points through the arrival and departure process where you can get your message across and security measures mean passengers have to spend considerable waiting time at the airport. We can offer block bookings in various locations to allow our clients to almost own the space.

“We also have some our most innovative technology in place at the airport.”

Mr Clemas said Christchurch Airport has a number of LCD panels which provide advertisers with motion video or animation opportunities. For outdoor impact the airport hosts the second largest freestanding billboard in New Zealand.

“We also have a 15m x 8m silver metallic frame in a location that really lends itself to enhancing outdoor campaigns for high end luxury goods. It just has a quality and class feel and look to it that isn’t readily available from other sites.”

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