Airports in New Zealand
Auckland and Wellington in the North Island and Christchurch in the South Island are home to New Zealand's main international airports.
 |
| Auckland International Airport is New Zealand's largest and busiest airport. |
For some history, the first airport in New Zealand began operations in 1940. It was located in Auckland's Mechanics Bay, and was for so-called "flying boats," the plane first in service being the Short S30, operated by Tasman Empire Airways Limited (or, TEAL, which became Air New Zealand in 1978). The first flights were to and from Sydney, Australia.
Auckland Airport
Auckland Airport (AKL) is New Zealand's largest and busiest, and in normal circumstances handles over 20 million passengers a year. Auckland Airport receives over 70% of all international arrivals into the country.
The airport has two terminals - one international and the other domestic. Transferring between the two terminals is a 10-minute walk (not covered; so, not a pleasant walk in cold or rainy weather). In normal times, a shuttle bus runs between the two terminals from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., but is suspended at the moment due to the coronavirus.
There are flights to and from various cities in Australia, Bangkok, Beijing, Doha, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Manila, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Shenzhen among other places.
Flight time Sydney to Auckland is approximately 3 hours, 10 minutes.
Airlines serving Auckland Airport
The following airlines fly in and out of Auckland International Airport
Air New Zealand
Qantas
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Australia
Jetstar
Barrier Air
FlyMySky
AirChathams
American Airlines
Qatar Airways
China Airlines
Fiji Airways
Singapore Airlines
Domestic Flights to and from Auckland Airport
There are direct flights between Auckland Airport and the following regional airports throughout New Zealand. (Listed from north to south.)
Kaitaia (45 minutes)
Bay of Islands (45 minutes)
Whangarei (40 minutes)
Great Barrier Island (40 minutes)
Hamilton (30 minutes)
Tauranga (40 minutes)
Whakatane (45 minutes)
Rotorua (45 minutes)
Gisborne (1 hour 5 minutes)
Taupo (50 minutes)
New Plymouth (50 minutes)
Napier (1 hour 5 minutes)
Whanganui (1 hour)
Palmerston North (1 hour 15 minutes)
Kapiti Coast (1 hour 20 minutes)
Wellington (1 hour 10 minutes)
Nelson (1 hour 30 minutes)
Blenheim (1 hour 30 minutes)
Christchurch (1 hour 25 minutes)
Queenstown (1 hour 55 minutes)
Dunedin (1 hour 55 minutes)
Invercargill (2 hours 5 minutes)
Auckland Airport to Auckland City access
Access from Auckland Airport to Auckland City takes about 30 minutes by car (if the traffic is flowing), and about an hour and a quarter by bus.
The cheapest and easiest way to get to and from Auckland Airport is by using the SkyBus service, which currently costs from NZD 17 one-way, and from NZD 32 return. A paper ticket can be purchased from the SkyBus ticket office where the buses depart from, or a QR code ticket can be bought (for a slight discount) online. You must buy a ticket in advance. You cannot pay the driver in cash.
Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport is situated at the southern tip of the North Island in New Zealand's capital city of Wellington.
 |
| Eagle in Wellington Airport terminal, inspired by The Hobbit |
Of New Zealand's three major airports, Wellington Airport is located closest to the centre of the city it serves.
Wellington International Airport has a single terminal building.
Wellington is nicknamed the "Windy City," for good reason, so aeroplane landings at Wellington Airport can be somewhat bumpy.
Airlines serving Wellington International Airport
The following airlines currently fly in and out of Wellington International Airport
Air New Zealand
Air Kaikoura
Fiji Airways
Golden Bay Air
Sounds Air
Originair
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Jetstar Airways
 |
| Wellington Airport (WLG) |
Domestic Flights to and from Wellington Airport
There are direct flights between Wellington Airport and the following regional airports throughout New Zealand. (Listed from north to south.)
Hamilton (1 hour 10 minutes)
Tauranga (1 hour 15 minutes)
Rotorua (1 hour 15 minutes)
Gisborne (1 hour 15 minutes)
Taupo (1 hour)
New Plymouth (1 hour)
Napier (1 hour)
Nelson (45 minutes)
Blenheim (30 minutes)
Kaikoura (50 minutes)
Christchurch (1 hour)
Queenstown (1 hour 25 minutes)
Dunedin (1 hour 40 minutes)
Invercargill (2 hours 10 minutes)
Christchurch Airport
Christchurch Airport (CHC) operates around the clock and has flights to and from cities in Australia (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney), Dubai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Christchurch Airport has a single terminal, with two floors.
 |
| Lounge in Christchurch Airport |
Airlines serving Christchurch Airport
The following airlines currently fly in and out of Christchurch International Airport
Air New Zealand
Singapore Airlines
Sounds Air
Jetstar Airways
Domestic Flights to and from Christchurch Airport
There are direct flights between Christchurch Airport and the following regional airports throughout New Zealand. (Listed from north to south.)
Auckland (1 hour 25 minutes)
Tauranga (1 hour 55 minutes)
Hamilton (1 hour 45 minutes)
Rotorua (1 hour 45 minutes)
New Plymouth (1 hour 30 minutes)
Napier (1 hour 35 minutes)
Wellington (55 minutes)
Nelson (55 minutes)
Blenheim (50 minutes)
Kaikoura (50 minutes)
Hokitika (45 minutes)
Wanaka (50 minutes)
Queenstown (1 hour 10 minutes)
Dunedin (1 hour 5 minutes)
Invercargill (1 hour 25 minutes)
 |
| View of Canterbury Plains from air, about to land at Christchurch Airport. |
Dunedin and Queenstown Airports
Dunedin Airport (DUD) and Queenstown Airport (ZQN) also have international flights, mainly to Australia.
Map of Airports in New Zealand
The following is a map of all the airports in New Zealand.
 |
| Airports in New Zealand |
Hotels in New Zealand
0 Comments