‘Real buzz’ at airport helped by Asia flights
Christchurch International Airport recorded its busiest month ever in December, boosted by tourists taking new direct flights from Asia.
The airport company’s chief aeronautical and commercial officer, Justin Watson, expected the trend to continue through to February and March, which were likely to be record months, too.
The timing of the Chinese New Year in February played a part, as did the higher demand for fruit, seafood and flowers exported directly to Asia.
There were 638,043 passengers using the terminal facilities during December, or an average of 20,000 passengers a day. This was up 4.8 per cent on December 2016.
‘‘This equates to more than the entire population of Canterbury and the West Coast through the terminal during the past month alone,’’ Watson said.
‘‘The terminal has a real buzz and sense of excitement about it.’’
During the 2017 financial year there were 1.6 million international passengers and 4.9 million domestic travellers, although some of the overseas tourists also feature in the domestic tally if they came via Auckland.
The airport was the gateway for
74 per cent of tourists vising the South Island. After arriving they dispersed southwards, and to the West Coast, Hanmer Springs and Marlborough, Watson said.
The lift in numbers was the result of demand, as well as people taking advantage of new services.
For example, visitors were up
79 per cent from Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific has begun a new three-day-a-week service between Christchurch and Hong Kong, taking hours off alternative flights via Auckland to the South Island.
Other large visitor increases were from China, up 41 per cent, India, up 26 per cent, and South Korea, up 23 per cent. European visitor numbers also grew, with 12 per cent more from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
Watson said new services and larger aircraft have been introduced by airlines over the past three years flying between Christchurch and Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Pacific Islands, as well as domestically.
‘‘All our international airline partners are telling us most seats were full during December.’’
International arrivals led the December growth, with a 7.7 per cent increase across the month.