Aussies boost airport numbers

A 3.9 per cent rise in international passenger volumes through Auckland Airport last month from a year earlier, excluding transits, is another indicator of the economic impact of high Australian visitor numbers.

In its monthly traffic update for March, the airport said the rise in international passengers was the result mainly of increased Australian visitors through the airport, up 15.8 per cent from a year earlier to 60,320.

That growth reflected lower fares, increased competition and the continued attractiveness of short-haul holidays, the airport said yesterday.

Overall international arrivals, excluding transits, through the airport were up 4.3 per cent to 265,774, with international departures up 3.5 per cent to 302,612.

Domestic passenger volumes through the airport were up 5.8 per cent to 557,882 in March from a year earlier, and the rolling 12-month total gained 3.9 per cent to 5.97 million.

For a second month in a row, domestic aircraft movements showed a modest increase, following 15 months of decreases compared to a year earlier, the airport said.

- NZPA