July 2026 Monthly Traffic Update

17/08/2026 08:30 NZST, GENERAL

Key points:

• In July 2026, total international passenger movements were 873k, a 5% increase compared to the same month in 2025. International seat capacity in July 2026 increased 5% on the same month last year resulting in average load factors of 82%, a 0.1 percentage point increase. The increase in passenger movements in the month compared with July 2025 is in part due to a change in the timing of New Zealand school holidays and the Matariki public holiday. Across June and July 2026 compared with the same two months in 2025, international passenger movements increased by 1%;

• Reviewing the top five nationalities for non-transit international passengers shows New Zealand nationals increased by 4% on the prior year, Australian nationals increased by 4%, Chinese nationals increased by 12%, US nationals increased by 8% and UK nationals decreased by 2%;

• Passenger volumes on short-haul international routes increased by 7% and seat capacity increased by 9%, with load factors of 82%, a 1.4 percentage point decrease. Passenger movements on long-haul international routes increased by 1% and seat capacity decreased by 2%, resulting in load factors of 82%, a 2.2 percentage point increase;

• Domestic passenger movements in the month were down on the prior year reflecting the timing of holidays and the continued effect of capacity reductions during the month. Passenger movements in July decreased by 2% compared with the same month in the prior year, with seat capacity decreasing 5%, resulting in load factors of 85%, a 2.8 percentage point increase. Across June and July 2026, compared with the same two months in 2025, domestic passengers decreased by 3%. Passenger numbers on the domestic trunk routes in July 2026 increased 1% and seat capacity declined 4%, with load factors of 86%, a 3.7 percentage point increase. Regional passenger numbers in July 2026 declined 9% and seat capacity also declined by 9% with load factors of 81%, a 0.5 percentage point increase; and

• Queenstown Airport international passenger numbers in July 2026 increased by 22% on the year prior and domestic passengers increased by 4% on the same month last year.