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Wellington Airport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the busiest airport in China and the seventh busiest in the world.
The two airports have agreed to strengthen their relationship by sharing knowledge and jointly developing opportunities. The agreement covers staff training and exchanges, project cooperation, and work to schedule potential future services.
The MoU was signed at the World Routes event in Hong Kong last week.
“It’s very exciting to have New Zealand’s capital city airport working closely with China’s busiest airport,” says Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke.
“It’s an honour to be working directly with one of the world’s major airports and we look forward to building closer links between our two regions.
“Our long-awaited runway enhancements will be complete early next year, creating exciting possibilities for connecting Wellington non-stop with destinations in Asia and beyond.”
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport executive vice president Yaoming Qi says:
“We are delighted to establish a sister airport relationship with Wellington Airport, the gateway to New Zealand’s capital. As China’s comprehensive gateway-style international aviation hub and a core city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou is committed to building aerial bridges that connect the world.
“This cooperation will focus on promoting the development of the aviation market between our two regions. We see this collaboration as an opportunity to integrate the dynamic market of the Greater Bay Area with New Zealand’s tourism and cultural resources, creating a new model of aviation cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Guangzhou has a population of 18 million and is China’s third largest city. In 2024, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport hosted more than 76 million passengers.
