Auckland airport passenger numbers plummet

[NickN]

PASSENGER volumes through Auckland Airport continue to plummet in February with only an increase in visitors from Australia putting a brake on the slide.

International passenger numbers were down in February from 636,293 last year to 592,535, or a 3.6 percent drop when adjusted for the extra day during last year's leap year.

South Korea recorded the biggest drop in visitors, down 23.5 percent (unadjusted) to 3996.

Other nationalities visiting less in February were the United Kingdom, down 16.5 percent; the United States, 20 percent; China, 19.7 percent and Canada 17.7 percent.

However, the bulk of visitors came from Australia and in February visitor numbers from across the Tasman rose 3.1 percent to 49,705.

Domestic passenger numbers were also down 7.8 percent to 462,473, however, when adjusted for last year's extra day in February the decrease was just 4.5 percent.

Auckland Airport's total aircraft movements, international and domestic, dropped 8.5 percent from 13,496 to 12,355

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...013605,00.html