Air New Zealand is expecting the passenger numbers to cross the 55,000 mark each day with the approaching Christmas and New year holidays. The airline expects to carry 2.8 million passengers between December 15 and January 31, compared to 1.3 million in the same period last year. This summer will be the busiest summer for the airline in the last three years. The airline expects the passenger traffic to cross the 55,000 mark on six important days - 15, 16, 22, 23, 27, and 28 December.
The busiest route during this period will be the Auckland to Christchurch route, while Queenstown will be the most active regional airport, handling more than 6,000 passengers on December 23, 2022.
Leanne Geraghty, chief customer and sales officer of Air New Zealand, said: “This is the first summer in three years where the airline's entire network was operating. Airports, security screening, and check-in areas are going to be much busier than usual. We're asking customers to allow additional time to get to and through the airport, they are traveling from and to be as patient as possible as our staff is working to get everyone to their holiday destination."
Meanwhile, the airline is requesting customers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their international flight or one hour if on domestic service to avoid inconvenience.