Queenstown becomes NZ's second busiest for Aussie arrivals

Queenstown Airport becomes New Zealand’s second busiest for Australian arrivals

Queenstown and Auckland Airports have welcomed the latest Statistics New Zealand international travel and migration data which shows Queenstown Airport was the second busiest airport in New Zealand for Australian passenger arrivals in July.

According to Statistics New Zealand:
• 19,344 Australians arrived at Queenstown Airport in July this year, up 15.8% from July 2012 and 19.9% of New Zealand’s 97,152 monthly Australian arrivals. 51,264 Australians arrived at Auckland Airport (up 8.5% and 52.8% of the total).
• 21,192 short-term overseas visitors arrived at Queenstown Airport in July this year, up 16.1% from July 2012 and 11.5% of New Zealand’s 183,559 monthly short-term overseas visitors. 125,027 short-term overseas visitors arrived at Auckland Airport (up 7.9% and 68.1% of the total).

Queenstown Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Scott Paterson, acknowledges that Queenstown Airport's passenger numbers on trans-Tasman and Auckland routes have been growing strongly. "We have had to work hard to ensure that the airport can handle this growing demand through the timely introduction of necessary infrastructure and systems."

"Auckland Airport’s promotion of Queenstown compliments well the direct marketing in Australia by the regional tourism operator, Destination Queenstown, and the local Queenstown business community," says Mr Paterson.

Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport’s General Manger Aeronautical Commercial, says both Auckland and Queenstown Airports have experienced strong growth over the past 12 months.

“The latest Statistics New Zealand data confirms the benefit of marketing direct airline services into Auckland and Queenstown. It also shows that Auckland Airport’s strategy of promoting Queenstown as an onward destination is paying real dividends.”

“We have no doubt that Queenstown will continue to grow and is on-track to transform from an international winter gateway into a year-round gateway for international visitors, and the second most important international airport in New Zealand. This is great news for the local and regional tourism industry and economy, and great news for New Zealand. We are also excited by the proposal for a convention centre in Queenstown which will serve to broaden the destination’s appeal.”

“It’s important that we continue to grow traffic not only from Australia but also from other key markets such as the United States, Asia and Europe, as these visitors will travel through Auckland to Queenstown or direct into Queenstown from Australia.”

“The recent announcement of the Emirates and Qantas partnership shows how easy it has now become for international visitors to do exactly this – they can fly into Auckland on the Emirates A380, make their way on a domestic airline to Queenstown, and then depart New Zealand from Queenstown using the Qantas international flights,” says Mr Wedlock.

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