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Christchurch Airport is gearing up for its biggest international summer season yet, with airlines adding new long-haul routes, more flights and larger aircraft and airlines extending services beyond the traditional summer peak.
More than 1.27 million international seats will be available across the season between November and March, 21% more than last summer.
Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says the schedule is a building on the strength and opportunities in Christchurch and the South Island.
“This is the biggest summer we’ve ever had and behind that is a huge amount of work by our team, alongside our airline and tourism partners, to both build demand for Christchurch and the South Island and ensure there is the capacity for international visitors to get here.”
“Airlines have numerous choices about where they put their aircraft. Seeing them add new destinations, increase frequencies, use bigger aircraft and extend seasons tells us they have real confidence in this market.”
One of the biggest changes comes from Air New Zealand, who will launch three new international services from Christchurch after they signed an MOU with the airport. The MOU sets out an ambition to work much more closely together, aligning thinking on network growth, airport planning, customer experience and the future of aviation.
Air New Zealand will operate three weekly services to Singapore from October 28, Tokyo Narita from 28 November, and Perth from November 30, using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Together, these new services alone will add more than 92,000 seats to the Airport’s international network.
The Tokyo and Perth services will also stretch well beyond the traditional summer season, with Tokyo continuing until May 8 and Perth until May 7.
Singapore will be one of the standout markets. Singapore Airlines will continue its daily year-round service and add three extra services a week throughout the summer, increasing those extra flights to five a week during the peak period. Combined with Air New Zealand’s new three-times-weekly Singapore service, South Islanders will have unprecedented choice to reach Singapore and connect onwards to destinations across Asia, Europe and beyond.
Sunday November 22 that growth will result in three Singapore arrivals and departures at Christchurch Airport. With a total of 1,560 seats available to and from Singapore that day.
There is strong growth elsewhere too.
Cathay Pacific returns from 2 November and will increase to five Hong Kong services a week for 13 weeks over the peak summer period. Most flights will use the larger A350-1000, adding 54 seats per flight compared with the A350-900.
China Southern Airlines will operate daily between Christchurch and Guangzhou throughout the season and add three extra services a week for 12 weeks between December and February, taking the route to as many as ten flights a week. Services will operate in the morning and evenings to Guangzhou under this enhanced schedule. A huge 57 percent increase on last summer.
United Airlines will use the larger Boeing 787-9 on its San Francisco service for the entire season, adding 14 seats on every flight and increasing the number of premium seats available.
Qantas will extend its third daily Sydney service from six weeks last summer to 14 weeks this season, adding around 11,700 seats. Its Brisbane service will operate twice daily throughout the season. Qantas will be operating passenger services seven times daily into Christchurch.
Jetstar launches a new three-times-weekly Perth service from 27 October using their larger Airbus A321, and a new four-times-weekly Sydney service from 26 October.
Fiji Airways will increase its Nadi service to as many as five flights a week during the December-January peak.
Justin Watson says the airline growth is important, but it’s what they deliver for the South Island that matters more.
“Every new flight brings people, trade and opportunity. Visitors arriving here spread out across the South Island, supporting accommodation, hospitality, attractions and regional communities, while the same aircraft provide important connections for our exporters.”
It’s not just about passengers, the bellies of these aircraft carry thousands of tonnes of fresh, high-value products such as stone fruit, salmon and shellfish to markets around the world, helping kiwi producers reach global customers quickly and supporting jobs and economic value across the region.
ChristchurchNZ chief executive Ali Adams says increased international connectivity strengthens both Christchurch’s visitor economy and its position internationally.
“What we’re seeing this summer hasn’t happened by accident. Christchurch Airport has worked consistently with airlines and destination partners like us to build confidence in our city and the wider South Island. This schedule gives us an opportunity to turn that connectivity into lasting value for our visitor economy and our communities.”
Minister for the South Island James Meager says the extra flights create growth and opportunity across the mainland.
“This is exactly the sort of connectivity the South Island needs to keep growing. More direct flights into Christchurch will bring more visitors into our towns and regions, open up more opportunities for local businesses and exporters, and make it easier for Kiwis to connect with the world. This is a real vote of confidence in the South Island, and all we have to offer.”
Justin Watson says the scale of the summer schedule also provides South Islanders with something increasingly important, choice.
“For people who live here, more direct services mean fewer connections, more options and easier access to the world. For visitors, it means the South Island is increasingly somewhere they can fly directly into rather than somewhere they have to reach via another New Zealand airport”
“That’s great for Christchurch, great for our regions and great for the South Island economy.” he says.
