Airport visitor numbers up in February

International and domestic passenger numbers are both up at Auckland Airport in February, compared to the same month last year.

Domestic passenger numbers rose 10.8 per cent to 502,999 when the two months were compared, which the airport attributed to Jetstar replacing Qantas services.

A 2.6 per cent rise in international passenger numbers to 607,745 was put down to growth in trans-Tasman routes, particularly to Sydney and the Gold Coast.

A 40.3 per cent rise in arrivals from China and Hong Kong was mainly driven by the Chinese new year falling in February this year.

The airport put a 12.3 per cent rise in arrivals from Japan down to increased promotional activity by the airport in partnership with Air New Zealand.

The airport handled 3177 international aircraft movements in the month and 9179 domestic aircraft movements. Total aircraft movements rose 1.4 per cent from last year.

There was a 7.3 per cent fall in arrivals from the United Kingdom and a 4 per cent fall in arrivals from Canada. Arrivals from the United States were little changed.

- NZPA