KEY POINTS:
There were fewer planes but more passengers through Auckland airport terminals in latest statistics released by operator Auckland International Airport Ltd.
International passenger volumes rose 7.6 per cent in March compared with the same month last year . International arrivals were up 8.9 per cent, with international departures up 6.4 per cent.
New Zealand resident arrivals were very strong, up 13.9 per cent for the month.
Arrivals from Australia were up 10.9 per cent and arrivals from the United Kingdom were up 11.5 per cent but arrivals from the United States were down 4.4 per cent.
Arrivals from China, excluding Hong Kong, were up 18 per cent, reflecting the success of Air NZ's Shanghai service.
But worries Japanese are less likely to visit New Zealand while the New Zealand dollar is particularly high against the yen have been confirmed. Japanese arrivals were down 12 per cent in March from a year ago.
International aircraft movements and domestic aircraft movements were down 1.6 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively.
The decline in domestic aircraft movements was due to the closure of Origin Pacific.
- NZPA
