23 December 2016
Auckland Airport welcomes inaugural Tianjin Airlines flight
Auckland Airport has welcomed its 29th international airline this morning, with the arrival of the inaugural Tianjin
Airlines flight from Chinese cities Tianjin and Chongqing.
Scott Tasker, Auckland Airport’s acting general manager – aeronautical commercial, says, “We’re delighted to welcome
Tianjin Airlines to Auckland Airport and New Zealand, and excited that they’ve chosen Auckland for their first
Australasian service.”
“Regional China is a rapidly developing market for New Zealand tourism and the new flights we’re welcoming today will
provide more choice for Chinese visitors to experience New Zealand, and for New Zealanders travelling to China.”
Tianjin Airlines will operate year-round between Tianjin, Chongqing and Auckland with three flights a week using an A330
aircraft. The new service will add 83,000 seats to the China-Auckland route every year and Auckland Airport estimates
that this will deliver a $102 million boost to the New Zealand tourism industry.
Tianjin and Chongqing are Auckland Airport’s 47th and 48th international destinations respectively. Tianjin is the
largest coastal city in northern China, with a population of more than 15 million people. Chongqing is a major economic
centre in the Yangtze basin and has population of more than 30 million people.
Mr Tasker says that Auckland Airport is undertaking the most significant upgrades seen for several decades. The airport
is currently spending more than $1 million dollars every day on infrastructure improvements and expects at least this
level of investment to be maintained over the next five years.
“Tianjin Airlines is arriving in Auckland at an exciting time. A major upgrade of our international departure area is
well underway, as is the expansion of Pier B of the international terminal, which will add two more gates that can each
accommodate an A380 or two smaller aircraft. We are also progressing the concept design of the new domestic section of
our combined domestic and international terminal.”
Ends