Ann: GENERAL: AIA: New charter/seasonal capacity

• Release Date: 17/04/13 18:04
• Summary: GENERAL: AIA: New charter/seasonal capacity funding programme announced
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AIA
17/04/2013 16:04
GENERAL

REL: 1604 HRS Auckland International Airport Limited

GENERAL: AIA: New charter/seasonal capacity funding programme announced

Auckland Airport announces new charter/seasonal capacity funding programme
Offers up to $500,000 to support growth within the sector
In a move to continue stimulating demand within the tourism industry,
Auckland Airport is launching a new charter/seasonal capacity funding
programme as part of its Ambition 2020 initiative.
The programme offers up to $500,000 to tourism wholesalers/airline
partnerships that are looking to develop programmes that will create new
business opportunities with additional air capacity.
Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport General Manager Aeronautical Commercial, says
"The programme is looking to encourage further development in High
Opportunity Target (HOT) markets such as Asia and South America.  We believe
this can be achieved by working with key industry partners who have the
ability to grow demand if they can secure additional air capacity and in turn
encourage airlines to add capacity where there is proven strong demand."
"We know that demand was very strong in HOT markets over the summer high
season and that many travel wholesalers found it difficult to secure
sufficient seats.  We feel that our new charter/seasonal capacity funding
programme can help mitigate this by providing opportunities for both airlines
and trade sellers to grow business effectively together."
"We believe it is crucial to build value across markets through new charter
flights or direct seasonal services, where previously there were none. This
new fund provides a way for Auckland Airport to help achieve this by sharing
the risk of creating new programmes with the trade."
"We have already partnered with airlines and travel wholesalers in the past
to develop similar programmes throughout Asia, which have proved very
successful in developing new demand and increased air capacity. This new
charter fund provides the chance for us to extend this, making it more widely
available to see what further opportunities exist in other areas."
Auckland Airport sees the demand from the HOT markets of Asia and South
America as being key areas for this programme. As well as this, the programme
will look for opportunities to build traffic to Queenstown and the wider
South Island. Queenstown Airport's direct services to Auckland and Australia
support the best opportunities to grow value to NZ Inc and Queenstown
Airport's growth as the premiere gateway to the best of the South Island.
As well as the new funding programme, Auckland Airport will continue to
support tourism initiatives through its wider marketing programmes, as well
as investing up to $10 million annually to attract new air capacity and build
sustainable markets to New Zealand.
"Over 80% of all visitors outside of Australia arrive through Auckland
Airport and we believe it is important that we keep finding innovative ways
to attract more demand to build value for New Zealand tourism and trade,"
continues Mr Wedlock.  "We see our charter/seasonal capacity fund programme
as a win-win for everyone involved - creating more seats, more demand and
ultimately more arrivals for NZ Inc."
To find more information or to apply for funding from the Auckland Airport
charter programme, please go to www.aucklandairport.co.nz or talk to one of
our Airport team at TRENZ.

For further information, please contact:

Glenn Wedlock
027 688 8063
End CA:00235309 For:AIA    Type:GENERAL    Time:2013-04-17 16:04:26