June 2026 Monthly traffic update

15/07/2026 08:30 NZST, GENERAL

Key points:

• In June 2026 there was a total of 722k international passenger movements in the month, a 4% decrease compared to the same month in 2025 reflecting the continued effect of capacity reductions during the month. International seat capacity in June 2026 declined 2% on the same month last year resulting in average load factors of 79%, a 1.6 percentage point decrease;

• Reviewing the top five nationalities for non-transit international passengers shows New Zealand nationals decreased by 10% on prior year, Australian nationals increased by 2%, Chinese nationals increased by 4%, USA nationals decreased by 6% and Indian nationals increased by 3%;

• Passenger volume on short-haul international routes decreased by 4% and seat capacity was in line, with load factors of 78%, a 3.8 percentage point decrease. Passenger movements on long-haul international routes decreased by 3% and seat capacity decreased by 5%, resulting in load factors of 81%, a 1.4 percentage point increase. Flights from Auckland to the Middle East continued to be impacted, with passengers and seat capacity on the Middle Eastern routes lower by 62% and 53% respectively for the month of June 2026 compared to June 2025;

• Domestic passenger movements in the month were also down on the prior year reflecting the continued effect of capacity reductions during the month. Passenger movements in June decreased by 5% compared with the same month in the prior year, with seat capacity decreasing 6%, resulting in load factors of 81%, a 0.9 percentage point increase. Passenger numbers on the domestic trunk routes declined 3% and seat capacity declined 4%, with load factors of 81%, a 0.6 percentage point increase. Regional passenger numbers declined 8% and seat capacity declined by 10% with load factors of 81%, a 1.5 percentage point increase; and

• Queenstown Airport international passenger numbers in June 2026 increased by 19% on the year prior and domestic passengers decreased by 1% on the same month last year.

Attachments

  1. June 2026 Monthly traffic update