AIA
03/09/2015 09:53
GENERAL
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 0953 HRS Auckland International Airport Limited
GENERAL: AIA: AIAL Auckland Airport welcomes Air Chinas new daily service
Media Release 3 September 2015
Auckland Airport welcomes Air China's new daily service
Auckland Airport welcomes Air China's new daily service between Beijing and
Auckland, which commences 10 December 2015 in partnership with Air New
Zealand.
Norris Carter, Auckland Airport's general manager aeronautical commercial,
says, "Air China will bring an additional 123,000 seats per year and deliver
an estimated $149 million annually to the New Zealand economy."
There were 315,248 Chinese visitors to New Zealand in the year to 31 July
2015, up 29.5% on the previous 12 months. China is also New Zealand's second
largest international tourist market, after Australia.
"A specific focus of Auckland Airport has been to address the seasonality of
tourism by increasing the number of international arrivals during off-peak
months, through our Four Seasons, Five Senses marketing campaign. We are
therefore delighted that this new Beijing daily service not only increases
year-round and Chinese New Year air connectivity, it will significantly
improve connectivity during the tourism industry's shoulder and off-peak
seasons. For example, with the announcement of the 2022 Beijing Winter
Olympics, Chinese interest in snow sports is increasing which is likely to
have flow-on benefits to our ski industry and winter holiday destinations."
"The Air China-Air New Zealand partnership will provide New Zealanders with
better access to domestic destinations in China. It will also further improve
air connectivity between New Zealand and Europe, which will help to grow our
European tourism markets," says Mr Carter.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Simon Lambourne
+64 27 477 6120
[email protected]
End CA:00269581 For:AIA Type:GENERAL Time:2015-09-03 09:53:51
