At a media breakfast presentation on Wednesday chief strategic planning officer Mary-Liz Tuck gave an update on scheduled airline capacity into the airport for year ending March 2026. The key good news story is a 4% year on year increase from North America, representing a 7% increase on 2019 figures.
‘We’re not chasing any more airlines from North America, we’ve got the key carriers coming here. But we are looking to increase their services.’
However, a number of regions remain down on pre-covid figures, including the important market of Australia.
‘We’re still missing the challenger role there that Virgin Australia used to play,’ says Tuck. At the same time however she points to increased services from Jetstar and Qantas to ports such as Perth, Adelaide and Maroochydore which will see an expected increase on YoY capacity while still being some 9% down on 2019.
Domestic traffic is a similar story, 5% up on the previous year but still 7% less capacity than pre-Covid.
Southeast Asia, too is struggling to get back to 2019 levels. ‘We’re still missing Thai Airways,’ says Tuck.
AKL’s key airfield expansion opens
Auckland Airport this week officially opened its most significant airfield expansion.
Adding around 23 rugby fields of space to the airport’s existing 1.4 million square metre apron, taxiway and runway network, it creates parking for up to 11 jets, while strengthening cargo connections between road and airfield.
Auckland Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui says the expansion marks a milestone moment for AKL, completing a major piece of aeronautical infrastructure to support New Zealand’s growth ambitions and keep the country’s gateway airport running efficiently.
‘New Zealand’s international connectivity is still recovering to reach and surpass 2019 levels, but we are optimistic for the future with long-term growth on the horizon. Key international airline partners tell us they are preparing to take delivery of new aircraft over the coming years, including one with an order of around 150 planes.’
