May 2023 Monthly traffic Update_June 2023 Preview

May 2023 Monthly traffic update and June 2023 Monthly Traffic Preview

83% of pre-COVID equivalent. In May 2023, total passenger volumes at Auckland Airport were 83% of the May 2019 pre-COVID equivalent in the last full financial year not impacted by the COVID pandemic. International passengers (excl. transits) were 82% of May 2019, with transit and domestic passengers at 73% and 85% respectively.

Key Points:

• Total passenger numbers declined month on month in May 2023 to 1.3m or 83% of the pre-COVID equivalent, down on the 1.4m passengers seen in April 2023;

• The international passenger recovery improved again achieving 81% of May 2019, a 2ppts improvement on the prior month;

• New Zealand passport holders accounted for 51% of total international arriving and departing travellers during May, an 87% recovery versus May 2019. 0.3m international Non-New Zealand passport holders travelled during the month, a recovery of 77% compared to May 2019 and a record high since COVID-19 related border restrictions were introduced in early 2020;

• Domestic recovery increased to 85% of May 2019 up from 82% of 2019 in the prior month;

• Queenstown airport international passenger numbers were 117% of May 2019, and domestic 95% of May 2019.

June 2023 Monthly traffic preview

88% of pre-COVID equivalent. In June 2023, total passenger volumes at Auckland Airport were 88% of the June 2019 pre-COVID equivalent in the last full financial year not impacted by the COVID pandemic. International passengers (excl. transits) were 86% of June 2019, with transit and domestic passengers at 81% and 90% respectively.


Key Points:

• Total passenger numbers improved slightly in June 2023 when compared to the prior month to 1.3m. Average daily passenger numbers increased through the month of June 2023 because of school holidays commencing at the end of the month. There were on average 46k daily passengers in the last week compared to 41k in the first week of June 2023;

• The international passenger recovery improved again achieving 85% of June 2019. During the final quarter of the financial year, load factors declined as capacity growth outstripped passenger growth. Pacific Island routes were the exception with passenger demand recovering to 97% compared to June 2019 on capacity recovery of 91%, increasing airline load factors on the routes by 5ppt’s;

• New Zealand nationals made up 55% of all international passengers during June 2023 with a recovery rate of 90% compared to June 2019. Chinese passport holders were the third largest nationality travelling internationally (behind New Zealand and Australians) with 37k passengers which is a 69% recovery and an 18ppt improvement on May 2023;

• There are now five airlines operating direct services to and from mainland China, with passengers on the route recovering to 71% of June 2019 relative to a 78% capacity recovery. Whilst load factors are lower than historic levels, load factors have been increasing steadily since border restrictions were removed;

• Domestic recovery increased to 90% in June 2023, from 85% in the prior month and load factors remained above FY19 levels. Half of all domestic passengers were traveling on the Auckland to Christchurch or Auckland to Wellington routes. Queenstown was once again popular with 78k passengers on the route representing a 102% recovery relative to June 2019;

• Queenstown airport international passenger numbers were 116% of June 2019, and domestic 106% of June 2019.

Please see attached PDF for full report.

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Announcement PDF