AIA - August 2022 Monthly traffic update and Sept 2022 Preview

Friday 14th October 2022

67% of pre-COVID equivalent. In August 2022, total passenger volumes at Auckland Airport were 67% of the pre-COVID equivalent in the financial year to 30 June 2019, the last full year not impacted by the COVID pandemic. International passengers (excl. transits) were 54% of the pre-COVID equivalent in August 2018 with transit passengers and domestic passengers at 46% and 84% respectively.

Key Points:

• The international passenger recovery continued in August with passenger movements for the month recovering to 54% of the pre-COVID equivalent, an increase from 50% in July 2022. Compared to the prior month, passenger movements were marginally down in August reflecting the school holidays falling in the prior month of July;

• Short-haul international passenger movements were 66% of the pre-COVID equivalent, with Australia 65% and Pacific Islands 70%. Cook Islands is still proving popular, recovering to 96% compared to August 2018 and Fiji at 86%. Long-haul international passenger movements were 36% of the pre-COVID equivalent. Excluding countries with more restrictive border policies in place (China, Japan, Hong Kong) the long haul recovery was 52%;

• Domestic passenger movements in August 2022 were 84% of the pre-COVID equivalent, but down slightly on the 87% recovery in July 2022; and

• Queenstown once again is proving popular with domestic passenger movements 106% of August 2018 and international passengers 98%.

Sept 2022 Monthly traffic preview

71% of pre-COVID equivalent. In September 2022, total passenger volumes at Auckland Airport were 71% of the pre-COVID equivalent in the financial year to 30 June 2019, the last full year not impacted by the COVID pandemic. International passengers (excl. transits) were 58% of the pre-COVID equivalent in September 2018 with transit passengers and domestic passengers at 53% and 87% respectively.

Key Points:

• The international passenger recovery continued in September with passenger movements for the month recovering to 58% of the pre-COVID equivalent, an increase from 54% in August 2022;

• Short-haul international passenger movements were 70% of the pre-COVID equivalent, with Australia 68% and Pacific Islands 76%. Long-haul international passenger movements were 41% of pre-COVID equivalent and up from 36% in the prior month;

• Quarantine requirements were removed by Hong Kong from 26 September, Japan from 11 October and Taiwan from 13 October. Mainland China still requires passengers to quarantine upon arrival.. Recovery on Asian routes is strengthening with 12% more passengers travelling on the route compared to month prior and representing a recovery, relative to September 2018, of 34%;

• The leadup into the busy summer season saw a number of airlines returning to Auckland including United Airlines resuming San Francisco to Auckland services 3rd October, Air Asia X (launching Kuala Lumpur via Sydney to Auckland services) and American Airlines (launching Dallas to Auckland services) at the end of October, with Air Canada resuming Vancouver to Auckland operations in November. October will also see Air New Zealand resume flights to Chicago;

• Domestic passenger movements in September 2022 were 87% of the pre-COVID equivalent, an increase from the 84% recovery in August 2022; and

• Queenstown airport passenger numbers have recovered to exceed pre-COVID equivalent levels with international passenger 112% of pre-COVID and domestic passengers 109%.

Please see pdf for full report

August 2022 Monthly traffic update and September 2022 Preview

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