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Visitors from Australia, the United States and China are spending about $7.6 million a day in Auckland, contributing an estimated $2.8 billion annually to the regional economy, according to new figures released by Auckland Airport.
The three countries were New Zealand’s largest inbound visitor markets in the year ending March 2026, accounting for 65 per cent of total visitor arrivals through Auckland Airport.
Auckland Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui says the figures reinforce Auckland’s role as both the country’s international gateway and a destination in its own right.
“International visitors aren’t just passing through Auckland. They’re choosing to spend time here, eating out, shopping, staying in hotels and exploring the city before travelling further around the country,” she says.
Carrie says investment in infrastructure projects including the City Rail Link, the New Zealand International Convention Centre, waterfront developments, hotels and airport infrastructure was helping position Auckland for future growth.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited destination director Annie Dundas says Auckland had spent recent years strengthening its profile in key international markets.
“What’s encouraging is that we’re now seeing more visitors choosing to spend longer in Auckland and engaging with a broader range of experiences across the region,” she says.
Air connectivity supporting growth
The report says direct flight connectivity and airline seat capacity have continued to drive growth from Australia, the United States and China.
Between late October 2025 and late March 2026, Australia accounted for 42 per cent of seat capacity at Auckland Airport, up 5 per cent on the previous year. The United States made up 13 per cent of capacity, while China accounted for 10 per cent, up 12 per cent year-on-year.
Carrie says international seat capacity remained about 7 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, although New Zealand continued to have strong links to major Australian, North American and Chinese cities.
She says airlines had responded to rising fuel prices by trimming some services and adding fuel surcharges, but remained positive about demand for New Zealand travel.
Australia remains largest market
Australia continued to lead New Zealand’s visitor recovery, with Australians spending around $1.5 million a day in Auckland.
Carrie says increased trans-Tasman connectivity and tourism marketing campaigns had helped strengthen demand.
In the year ending March 2026, seat capacity between Australia and Auckland increased 4 per cent, supported by 11 additional weekly Jetstar and Qantas flights, contributing to a 9 per cent increase in Australian holidaymakers.
US and China markets continue to grow
American visitors were contributing around $5 million a day to Auckland’s economy, supported by six airlines operating direct services from six major US cities.
Carrie says US travellers remained among New Zealand’s highest-spending visitors, with many treating trips to New Zealand as “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences.
Meanwhile, Chinese visitors were spending about $1.1 million a day in Auckland as demand from the market accelerated following visa changes.
The airport says direct arrivals from China increased 17 per cent over the past year, while visitors travelling via Australia rose 147 per cent during the November to March period. Total Chinese arrivals increased 20 per cent year-on-year.
Fuel costs affecting airlines
The report says airlines reduced some international capacity during March and April following fuel supply disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East, although overall seat availability remained 1 per cent higher than the same period last year.
Carrie says Auckland Airport had also been affected by reduced Emirates services and the temporary pause of regular Qatar Airways flights until June.
Despite that, traveller demand had remained resilient, with March and April recording 27 per cent more Chinese travellers, 8 per cent more Americans and 4 per cent more Australians compared with the same period last year.
A total of 1.77 million international travellers passed through Auckland Airport across March and April, up 4 per cent year-on-year, while load factors increased three percentage points to 86 per cent.
