Traffic through NZ airports to double: Airbus

Wide-body aircraft will more than double from some 280 today to over 640 by 2033 Airbus says. Photo: Greg Bowker.

Airbus forecasts the volume of traffic through New Zealand's top three airports will almost double to 45 million passengers a year within the next 20 years and Auckland will become an "aviation mega-city."

Strong economies, tourism and appetite for travel is driving growth which will result in the number of passenger aircraft serving New Zealand, Australia and Pacific Islands region growing from about 700 aircraft now to more than 1200 by 2033.

Wide-body aircraft will more than double from some 280 today to over 640 by 2033.

Aviation growth is comparable with other mature markets such as North America and Europe and this region has the world's highest propensity to travel per capita, Airbus said in its global market forecast.

The research shows international traffic serving the New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands region will grow annually at 4.5 per cent in the period.

Traffic to and from neighbouring developing markets will grow more quickly with flights to Asia growing at 5.1 per cent, Latin America 6.2 per cent, Africa 6.3 per cent and the Middle East 5.4 per cent.

All are well above the world average of 4.7 per cent.

Travellers in the New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands make more than three trips per capita a year and is almost double that of North America.

Propensity to travel here will remain the world's highest at over four trips per capita by 2033.

By that year the number of aviation mega-cities - where there are more than 10,000 long-haul passengers passing through a day - globally will double to 91, Airbus says.

Existing mega cities of Sydney and Melbourne will be joined by Auckland, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

These centres will account for 35 per cent of global GDP and Airbus says it will be served by high capacity aircraft such as the A380, with some 95 per cent of all long haul traffic travelling to from or through them.

Rapid growth in the aviation market in this region is illustrated by Australia where domestic traffic has increased by nearly 90 per cent in the last decade.

Globally, in the next 20 years passenger traffic will grow annually at 4.7 per cent driving a need for around 31,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft (100 seats and above) worth US$4.6 trillion.

The passenger and freighter fleet will increase from 18,500 aircraft today to 37,500 by 2033 and about 12,400 older less fuel efficient passenger and freight aircraft will be retired, says the Airbus forecast released in Auckland.