June in numbers at Auckland Airport
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NEW ZEALAND. Forget a trans-Tasman ‘travel bubble’ with Australia for now. But domestic tourism is on the rise.
Those were the mixed messages from New Zealand this weekend as the largely coronavirus-free country reacted to rising COVID-19 numbers in Australia and saw domestic passenger traffic improving fast at Auckland Airport.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told media today that the current COVID-19 crisis in Melbourne and the state of Victoria had pushed back the creation of any such travel bubble between the two countries.
Australia would need to register 28 continuous days with no community transmission, Ardern said, noting that could be several months away. As reported, Victoria was declared a state of disaster in the weekend after a surge in infections, with its capital Melbourne placed under curfew.
New Zealand media Stuff reported today that there are 760 active COVID-19 cases with no known source in Melbourne meaning they were acquired in the community. New Zealand has gone 93 days without such a case, the report said.
Prime Minister Ardern told Radio New Zealand that the Victorian outbreak was a “major step back for trans-Tasman travel”. She said that Australia would need to be free of community transmission for at least 28 days for a travel bubble to be permitted. “That will be some time for Australia,” Ardern commented. “It will be on the backburner for several months.”
Domestic travel makes Auckland Airport one of region’s busiest in June
In related news, Auckland Airport noted on Friday that it had been one of the region’s busiest airports in June, thanks to growing domestic traffic.
Auckland Airport served 231,600 passengers through its international and domestic terminals in June, down -85% year-on-year. But the strength of the domestic market meant Auckland Airport was busier than some of the largest gateways in Australia and Asia.
General Manager Aeronautical Commercial Scott Tasker said that well over 100 domestic flights had operated each day from Auckland Airport in June.
“Kiwis are picking up on Tourism New Zealand’s message and getting out to see their own country,” he said. “We saw traveller numbers increase again over the July school-holiday period, putting domestic passenger demand at about 60% of what it was during the same time last year. While we’re on the right track and it’s encouraging to see people returning to travel, we still have a long way to go.”
In June, Brisbane Airport served 184,616 passengers, -20% lower than Auckland while Sydney had 172,000, 25% fewer. Singapore Changi recorded 48,200 passengers (79% lower than Auckland) and Hong Kong 59,000 (-74% lower).
Auckland’s June numbers were just -28% behind the UK’s largest hub, London Heathrow, which served 320,283 passengers in June.
Tasker said the numbers demonstrated the stark reality of the challenges faced by airlines and airports around the world.
“Everyone in the aviation and tourism industry has been significantly affected by COVID-19. While we’re facing challenges in the short term we know that New Zealand is a very desirable destination for travellers and airlines will continue to want to fly here in future.
“Kiwis are fortunate to be able to fly domestically with so few restrictions and they’re taking advantage of that,” said Tasker. “Businesses and communities from Christchurch to Great Barrier Island rely on airlinks to stay connected, so it’s been great to see the recovery of domestic travel.”
