Auckland Airport traffic slide mirrors Air NZ decline

Monday 23rd March 2009

Auckland International Airport's overseas passenger numbers dropped 6.9% last month, mirroring a decline in numbers flying with Air New Zealand as the global downturn saps demand for travel.

Total international passenger movements fell to 592,535 in February, from 636,293 a year earlier, the airport company said in a statement. The biggest drop-off was in people traveling from the U.S., down 20%, China, down 19.7%, and the U.K., with a decline of 16.5%.

Air New Zealand last week reported a 14% decline in long-haul traffic in February, reflecting a downturn in passengers on routes to North America, the U.K. and Asia.

Australian rival Qantas Airways is to cut up to 100 senior executives as it tries to slash costs in response to the downturn in travel, the Australian Financial Review reported today. The job cuts are in addition to the 1,500 positions eliminated under cut backs last year, the Review said.

Auckland Airport's passengers from Australia, the biggest source of visitors, rose 3.1% to 49,705 last month.
And Air New Zealand has pledged to match the government's NZ$2.5 million in spending on promoting New Zealand in the Australian market.

The downturn has hit tourist operators in New Zealand. Shares of Tourism Holdings, the largest operator of campervans, have fallen 28% this year. Air New Zealand is down 8.3% and Auckland Airport rose 6.8%.

Businesswire.co.nz

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