NEW ZEALAND. Total international passenger traffic in May through Auckland International Airport, the country’s major gateway, rose +5.7% year-on-year to 435,750.
For the rolling financial year-to-date (July 04-May 05) international traffic increased by +6.7% to 5,683,390.
With rugby fever sweeping the country, the country’s airports – and duty free retailers – are set to benefit from a sharp rise in British and Irish visitors. Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) said: “May saw the beginnings of the influx of [British & Irish] Lions supporters, with the bulk to arrive in New Zealand in June. Estimates vary, but in excess of 20,000 Lions supporters may end up making the journey, the majority arriving through Auckland Airport.”
Meanwhile growth in New Zealanders travelling overseas remains strong, with +16% more (107,508) arriving back in the country than the same period last year. Arrivals from Australia were up +11.6% for the month to 32,891. Number five group the Japanese remained worryingly down, however, falling -17.0% year-on-year to 6,845. South Korean visitors eased -0.1% to 5,568 and Chinese traffic (excluding Hong Kong) also fell – down -9.4% to 4,767.
Two new routes were announced: Air Tahiti Nui is to fly services from Auckland to New York via Papeete from the beginning of July; and Emirates is to re-introduce one-stop flights to Dubai with the B777 Melbourne service being replaced with an A340-500 aircraft doing the Auckland-Melbourne-Dubai route.
NOTE: The British Lions play the first test of their tour against the New Zealand All Blacks on Saturday in Christchurch. The Moodie Report is offering readers the opportunity to win a six-bottle case of superb New Zealand wine from Kim Crawford wines. All you have to do is pick the score and answer a simple question – click here for details.
MORE STORIES ON AUCKLAND AIRPORT
Lions fever (pre-taming) hits Auckland Airport – 02/06/05
Auckland International Airport reveals small increase in April traffic – 25/05/05
