KEY POINTS:
Comings and goings are keeping Auckland International Airport busy.
The number of international passenger using the airport is rising, and airport statistics show New Zealanders are taking advantage of the high kiwi dollar to travel overseas.
International passenger numbers for the year ending June were up 2.6 per cent on the previous year at 6.4 million people.
But the airport company's chief financial officer, Robert Sinclair, said the growth rate during the second six months was 3.8 per cent.
"What we have seen this year is that improving trend ... and we do expect that to continue," he said.
The total number of international passengers in June was 478,631 - up 5.9 per cent on June last year.
New Zealanders coming home were up 11.4 per cent at 117,739 people.
"Strong New Zealand passenger growth was undoubtedly supported by the very high level of the New Zealand dollar, encouraging New Zealanders to travel abroad," Sinclair said.
The number of people coming from Australia - the largest overseas market - was up 1.2 per cent to 35,624 arrivals.
China was the fourth largest overseas market, growing 29.4 per cent to 6,394 people.
International and domestic aircraft movements were down by 0.9 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively - suggesting more people were travelling on fewer planes.
AUCKLAND AIRPORT
June 2007
* Total international passengers: 478,631 up 5.9pc
* Domestic passengers: 401,007 up 3.5pc
* Aircraft movements: 12,236 down 2.8pc
