Airport reports more passengers

Auckland Airport experienced stronger growth in November than a year ago. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Auckland Airport handled 3.8 per cent more passengers in November than a year ago, and airports it has invested in experienced even stronger growth.

"Both Cairns Airport and Queenstown Airport saw good international passenger growth in November, Cairns experiencing 39.1 per cent year-over-year growth," an Auckland Airport spokesman said.

Mackay Airport traffic is up 13 per cent to date this financial year.

Auckland Airport handled 554,363 passengers last month, up from 533,889 in November last year, the increase driven by strong Asian growth. Auckland Airport's domestic passenger traffic grew 1.5 per cent.

Separately, Infratil Ltd, the majority owner of Wellington Airport, said overall passenger growth there was 2 per cent in November. This comprised a 14 per cent lift in regional passengers, a 9 per cent rise in international and 5 per cent fall in passengers on main trunk routes.

Wellington Airport also said that construction work on a new aircraft hangar facility would start in January, the 2000sq m building to be located on the western apron area of the airport on Tirangi Road.

The building, to be operated by ExecuJet, would be used for aircraft storage and light maintenance.

- NZPA