AIA - June 2023 Monthly traffic Update_July 2023 Preview

Wednesday 16th August 2023

88% of pre-COVID equivalent. In June 2023, total passenger volumes at Auckland Airport were 88% of the June 2019 pre-COVID equivalent in the last full financial year not impacted by the COVID pandemic. International passengers (excl. transits) were 86% of June 2019, with transit and domestic passengers at 81% and 90% respectively.

Key Points:

• Total passenger numbers improved slightly in June 2023 when compared to the prior month to 1.3m. Average daily passenger numbers increased through the month of June 2023 because of school holidays commencing at the end of the month. There were on average 46k daily passengers in the last week compared to 41k in the first week of June 2023;

• The international passenger recovery improved again achieving 85% of June 2019. During the final quarter of the financial year, load factors declined as capacity growth outstripped passenger growth. Pacific Island routes were the exception with passenger demand recovering to 97% compared to June 2019 on capacity recovery of 91%, increasing airline load factors on the routes by 5ppt’s;

• Domestic recovery increased to 90% in June 2023, from 85% in the prior month and load factors remained above FY19 levels. Half of all domestic passengers were traveling on the Auckland to Christchurch or Auckland to Wellington routes. Queenstown was once again popular with 78k passengers on the route representing a 102% recovery relative to June 2019;

• Queenstown airport international passenger numbers were 116% of June 2019, and domestic 106% of June 2019.

July 2023 Monthly traffic preview

27% year on year. In July 2023, total passenger volumes at Auckland Airport increased by 27% compared to July 2022 and were 84% of the July 2018 pre-COVID equivalent, the last full year not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. International passengers (excl. transits) increased by 66% versus July 2022 and represent 83% of the July 2018 equivalent. Transit passengers are up 65% compared to July 2022, representing 77% of July 2018. Domestic passengers for July 2023 are in line with the prior year and represent 86% of July 2018 pre-COVID equivalent.

Key Points:

• Total passenger numbers reached 1.48m for July 2023 with strong annual growth in international passenger demand due to a combination of the July school holidays and the FIFA Women’s World Cup;

• 23 airlines operated on the international network in the month connecting Auckland with 38 overseas destinations, an increase of 5 airlines compared to the prior year;

• Connections to Australia were the most popular with 306k passengers, an increase of 34% on the prior year. The US was the next most popular market with 77k passengers, an annual increase of 123% driven by the increase in US passport holders traveling for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Pacific Islands remained popular with 40% more passengers wishing to escape for the warmer climate than this time last year. The higher demand on these services drove load factors to a high of 87%;

• Overall international load factors averaged 77% for July, lower than the year prior, but up on June 2023;

• Passengers on the domestic trunk network were in line with the prior year, however, the Auckland to Queenstown route was softer, declining 15%, reflecting passengers’ change in preference, traveling internationally as opposed to taking a winter holiday;

• Queenstown Airport international passenger numbers increased 28% on the year prior, and domestic passengers decreased 17% on the same month last year.

Please see attached PDF for full report.

June 2023 Monthly traffic update and July 2023 Monthly traffic preview

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