September 2026 Monthly traffic update

September 2026 Monthly traffic update
Notes:
This monthly traffic update from Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) is generated with assistance and data from the New Zealand Customs Service, Airways New Zealand, Queenstown Airport Corporation and AIAL. International and
domestic passenger movements are actual. This document is intended for information purposes. It should not be considered a recommendation, offer or invitation to purchase securities. All reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that the
information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
1
Maximum Certificated Take-Off Weight (MCTOW) forms the basis of determining airfield charges at Auckland Airport and is displayed to the nearest tonne.
aucklandairport.co.nz Issued: 15 October 202 6


Key points:
• Total passenger movements in September 2026 were down 4% on the prior year largely reflecting a reduction in domestic activity in the month
and the timing of the New Zealand September school holidays which started a week later this year;
• Total international passenger movements for September of 828k were in line with the same month in 2025 with international seat capacity also in
line with the same month last year, resulting in average load factors of 83%, a 0.2 percentage point decrease;
• A review of the top five nationalities among non-transit international passenger movements compared with the prior year shows that Chinese
nationals increased by 12%, US nationals increased by 9%, Australian nationals increased by 1%, Indian nationals decreased by 4%, and New
Zealand nationals decreased by 6%;
• Passenger movements on short-haul international routes increased by 1%, while seat capacity increased by 3% compared with the prior year,
resulting in average load factors of 82%, a 1.8 percentage point decrease. Passenger movements on long-haul international routes decreased by
2%, while seat capacity decreased by 4% compared with the prior year, resulting in average load factors of 85%, a 2.1 percentage point increase;
• Domestic passenger movements were down on the prior year, reflecting the continued effects of capacity reductions during the month.
Passenger movements in September decreased by 7% compared with the same month last year, and seat capacity also declined by 7% over the
same period, resulting in average load factors of 86%, a 0.5 percentage point decrease year-on-year. Passenger movements on domestic trunk
routes decreased by 7%, while seat capacity declined by 6%, resulting in average load factors of 87%, a 0.5 percentage point decrease. Regional
passenger movements declined by 9%, and seat capacity also declined by 9%, resulting in average load factors of 83%, a 0.4 percentage point
decrease; and
• Queenstown Airport passenger movements increased by 7% in September compared with the same month last year, with international
movements up 19% and domestic movements down 1%.
AUCKLAND AIRPORT

Current month

Financial year to date

Rolling 12-month total
Passenger Movements

Current
year
Change vs
prior year

Current
year
Change vs
prior year

Current
year
Change vs
prior year
International passengers

757,356 -2% 2,280,410 1% 9,836,035 2%
Transit movements

70,312 17% 204,584 10% 676,782 3%
Total international passengers

827,668 0% 2,484,994 2% 10,512,817 2%
Domestic passengers

667,048 -7% 2,023,028 -5% 8,467,404 -1%
Total passengers

1,494,716 -4% 4,508,022 -1% 18,980,221 1%


Aircraft Movements


International aircraft movements

4,299 0% 13,170 2% 54,496 4%
Domestic aircraft movements

7,744 -9% 23,159 -9% 101,007 -4%
Total aircraft movements

12,043 -6% 36,329 -6% 155,503 -2%


MCTOW (tonnes)
1



International MCTOW

414,521 2% 1,274,633 2% 5,285,678 2%
Domestic MCTOW

168,354 -6% 508,898 -6% 2,158,942 0%
Total MCTOW

582,875 0% 1,783,531 0% 7,444,620 1%





QUEENSTOWN AIRPORT

Current month

Financial year to date

Rolling 12-month total
Passenger Movements

Current
year
Change vs
prior year

Current
year
Change vs
prior year

Current
year
Change vs
prior year
International passengers
108,935 19% 361,895 20% 1,125,701 16%
Domestic passengers
139,155 -1% 438,461 1% 1,760,934 4%
Total passengers
248,090 7% 800,356 9% 2,886,635 9%

International aircraft movements 697 13% 2,327 15% 7,488 11%
Domestic aircraft movements
995 3% 3,110 3% 12,568 2%
Total aircraft movements
1,692 7% 5,437 8% 20,056 5%