Passenger numbers up at Auckland Airport

By NZPA

Thursday 21st December 2006

Auckland International Airport Ltd (AIAL) is confident about its upcoming busy season after passenger volumes rose in November.

The number of international passengers, excluding transits and transfers, through the airport rose 2.9% in November compared to the same month last year.

On a year to date, international passenger numbers are now ahead of last year, after the slow start in July and August.

"AIAL believes that the prospects for the upcoming high season and the balance of 2007 look positive," the company said in a statement to the stock exchange.

International visitor arrivals were up 4.4% with solid growth recorded across major inbound markets, particularly Australia, the UK, China and India.

There was also a turnaround in arrivals from Japan, with 4% growth recorded in November.

Arrivals by New Zealanders rebounded in November, with an increase of 4.7% over the same month last year. Arrivals from China rose 20.7% , which is being put down to Air New Zealand's new Shanghai service launched in October.

Domestic passenger numbers grew strongly in November, up 6.2%, and they have risen 1.9% in the year to date.

International aircraft movements were down 3.9% with reduced movements in November from Qantas and Air NZ.

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