Auckland Airport has started welcoming more flights from China post the lifting of travel ban. Interestingly China was New Zealand’s largest source of visitors prior to pandemic with over 400,000 passengers in 2019.
The touchdown of China Southern Airlines at Auckland Airport, with the first official tourist group since 2020 marked the ramping up of Chinese airline capacity to New Zealand.
Scott Tasker, chief customer officer, Auckland Airport said: “Across March and into early May, the three airlines currently connecting Auckland with mainland China are all bringing on additional flights. Air New Zealand, China Southern and China Eastern Airlines are the airlines involved. The extra flights would be a great late summer boost for the NZ tourism sector.”
“"As we roll out of the summer peak into the autumn shoulder season, we start seeing some of the North American seasonal services reduce. The arrival of more capacity from the Chinese connections will help smooth the cycle and extend the summer season for our tourism local operators," Tasker added.
New Zealand is one of the first of 20 outbound travel destinations to restart group tours under the China Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme. China is New Zealand’s second-largest visitor market, with Australia at the top spot.
China Southern operates four weekly flights from Guangzhou and Auckland expanding to daily capacity from March 27, 2023. China Eastern flies thrice weekly between Shanghai and Auckland again ramping the capacity to seven times a week from March 27. Air New Zealand operated four weekly flights between Auckland and Shanghai which will increase to five weekly flights from March 27 and seven weekly flights from May 2023.
Apart from these airlines, Air China, Sichuan Airlines and Hainan Airlines still have to announce their return services to Auckland.
China is Auckland Airport's second largest airfreight market with volumes growing 13% year-on-year and up 5.5% on 2019 despite COVID restrictions.
“With the bellyhold of passenger aircraft traditionally providing 80% of Auckland Airport's air freight capacity, the increase in services on a key trading route will also be welcomed by New Zealand businesses,” concluded Tasker.