Auckland Airport Hopes for Bumper Summer

Auckland Airport Hopes for Bumper Summer 
05 December 2003  

Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand

Auckland International Airport handled a record number of international 
travellers last week, the latest hint that the tourism industry is in for a 
bumper season this summer. 


During the week to Sunday, 129,222 international passengers arrived at or 
departed from the airport, a 17 per cent increase on the same week last year. 

The previous highest week was in January this year, when 125,188 international 
travellers passed through the airport. 

Airport chief executive Don Huse said January was traditionally the airport's 
busiest time of year. 

"Earlier this year the industry projected a 30 per cent increase in seat 
capacity. These latest figures show that the capacity increase is being taken 
up," he said. 

The airport has been preparing for an "unprecedented increase in international 
seat capacity" as airlines, including Emirates, add Auckland to their routes. 

Airport chairman Wayne Boyd last month told shareholders that full-year 
earnings may rise as much as 5 per cent as the company expands services to cope 
with an expected record number of international passengers over the peak summer 
months. 

The tourism industry is also expecting record numbers of overseas visitors in 
the country this summer. 

In the year to the end of October, short-term visitor numbers rose by 4 per 
cent on the previous year. 


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