Auckland airport October passenger numbers still suffer

Passenger numbers at New Zealand's Auckland airport in October edged above the low the previous month following Covid-19 travel restrictions affecting the country's largest airport imposed on 17 August.

Auckland was at an alert level three lockdown throughout October, limiting international and domestic services, operator Auckland Airport said.

The October passenger numbers are the second-lowest level since initial Covid-19 restrictions in March 2020. Passenger volumes fell by 92.5pc in October compared with the same period last year. International passengers, excluding transits, were down by 25pc and domestic passengers were down by 95.6pc.

The restrictions have affected international travel more than domestic travel, with the volume of domestic passengers in the 12 months to the end of October only 2pc lower than the previous 12-month period, which included four full months of normal travel conditions before restrictions were first imposed. The number of international passengers have fallen more than 85pc in the 12 months to the end of October from the same period in the previous 12 months. Total passenger numbers were down more than 41pc over the same 12-month period.

By Kevin Morrison