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Close to six million international seats are scheduled through Auckland Airport this summer, up 5% on last year, with airlines adding capacity across the international network and particularly strong growth in services between China and Auckland.
Between November 2026 and March 2027, airlines will add 48,000 seats between mainland China and Auckland, lifting by 9% compared to last summer. At the busiest point in the schedule, up to 65 return flights a week will connect Auckland with mainland China, with a record 614,000 seats available across the summer months.
China Southern Airlines will increase capacity between Guangzhou and Auckland by 23%, operating up to a record 18 flights a week over summer. The additional airline capacity comes across New Zealand’s peak summer visitor season and includes increased services during Chinese New Year. Air China is increasing Beijing capacity by 46%, including double-daily services during the Chinese New Year period. Air New Zealand is adding 7,000 more seats between Shanghai and Auckland over Chinese New Year with up to 10 flights per week. And China Eastern Airlines will double its ‘Southern Link’ Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires service from two to four flights a week starting early December.
Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker says the China growth was part of a strong international summer schedule.
“We’ll have nearly six million international seats scheduled through Auckland Airport this summer, with growth coming from across our international network as airlines add flights and use larger aircraft.
“China is one of the standout growth markets. The scale of the increase across several airlines is a strong signal of confidence in demand between China and New Zealand.
“China is an important visitor market for New Zealand, so this investment in connections is great news for our tourism industry. More capacity makes it easier for visitors to get here and supports tourism businesses not just in Auckland, but in destinations around the country.”
Across the wider international network, the summer schedule is expected to support close to $5.7 billion in international visitor spend, benefiting city and regional economies around New Zealand.
Around 321,000 visitors from China travelled to New Zealand in the year ending July 2026, up 31% year-on-year, with holidaymakers making up 76% of arrivals. Chinese holiday visitors stay around 10 days and spend about $5,700 per trip.
Easier travel supporting growth
The growth also follows changes to visa settings that have made travel between China and New Zealand easier.
Since November 2025, Chinese visitors holding a valid Australian visa have been able to enter New Zealand without applying separately for a New Zealand visa. In the first half of 2026, around 65,000 Chinese travellers entered New Zealand via Australia, up 156% year-on-year.
New Zealand passport holders can currently enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, business, family visits and transit.
“Making travel simpler matters. Combined with strong tourism demand and airlines investing in more services, it creates a real opportunity to keep growing travel between China and New Zealand,” Scott says.
Auckland’s direct services connect into three of China’s major aviation hubs, opening up extensive networks beyond the gateway cities. Shanghai Pudong offers non-stop connections to 240 destinations, Guangzhou Baiyun to 211, and Beijing Capital to 210.
“That connectivity extends the value of these routes well beyond the three gateway cities, putting a huge network of destinations within one stop of Auckland.”
Building the China market
Auckland Airport has had a dedicated presence in China for more than 10 years, working in-market with airlines and tourism partners to grow travel and connectivity between China and New Zealand.
Those relationships stretch back even further. China Southern Airlines launched direct flights between Guangzhou and Auckland in April 2011, while China Eastern Airlines entered the New Zealand market in 2014. Today, six airlines connect Auckland with seven destinations across mainland China, with between 32 and 65 flights a week depending on the season: Air New Zealand, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines.
“Air routes don’t just happen. We’ve spent years working alongside our airline and tourism partners to build demand and grow connections between China and New Zealand.
“What stands out this summer is the breadth of the growth. We’re seeing multiple airlines invest in additional services, reflecting confidence in demand between China and New Zealand.” says Scott.
The summer period – Northern Winter in global aviation – runs from October 25 2026 until March 27 2027.
