ANNOUNCING MORE ARRIVALS

Look at the latest traffic statistics through Auckland Airport and you get a good indicator of the scale of New Zealand’s tourism growth.

International passengers increased by 11.9 percent to 734,921 in September 2016, compared to September 2015, with most growth coming from Asia and the Americas.

Overseas visitor arrivals reached 2.5 million in the year to September 2016, up 11.3 percent on the preceding year, including a 16.8 percent lift in holidaymakers.

Capacity growth is up considerably, with ten new airlines and 16 new international routes commenced or announced since the middle of 2015 – and domestic capacity up significantly.

Airbus predicts that Auckland Airport will become a ‘global aviation mega-city’ by 2030 – one of just 80 worldwide. The Airport’s vision is to be catering for 40 million passengers every year by 2044, which will require building a lot of new infrastructure and facilities.

“The first phase of work to build the combined domestic and international terminal should be completed around 2021, with the second runway being built from 2025,” says Scott Tasker, acting GM aeronautical commercial.

“We’re currently in the middle of a major expansion and upgrade of our international departure terminal. This will see us more than double the space for security processing, seating and airport shopping; providing a world-class airport experience with a uniquely New Zealand theme.”