The new service will add 165,000 seats a year between NZ and the US. United Airlines' first San Francisco-Auckland flight in 13 years landed in NZ on Sunday. The airport's stock reached a record $6.895 on March 8.
"Auckland Airport is showing some very solid gains," said Grant Williamson, a director at Hamilton Hindin Greene. "International airlines are coming into the Auckland market creating more competition. It's very good for Auckland Airport."
Air New Zealand, the national carrier, rose about 1 per cent to $2.11.
Outdoor retailer Kathmandu rose 0.6 per cent to $1.60. Its shares have soared about 20 per cent since June 30, when it raised its forecast.
The NZ Superannuation Fund's stake in Kathmandu has fallen below 5 per cent as Mint Asset Management used the share price rise to sell some holdings, documents published to the NZX yesterday showed.
Trade Me Group, the auction website, rose 3.9 per cent to $4.75.
Telco network firm Chorus rose 2.2 per cent to $4.345 and Spark New Zealand, NZ's biggest telco, rose 0.6 per cent to $3.55.
Mighty River Power rose 0.3 per cent to $3 and TrustPower gained 0.3 per cent to $7.70 as its majority owner Infratil rose 0.3 per cent to $3.26.
Poultry firm Tegel Group Holdings gained 1.8 per cent to $1.66, while transport group Mainfreight rose 1.1 per cent to $16.90.
Summerset Group Holdings led gains among retirement village operators, rising 0.7 per cent to $4.51, while Metlifecare rose 0.5 per cent to $5.58 and Ryman Healthcare gained 0.3 per cent to $9.28.
Meridian Energy dropped 1.9 per cent to $2.56 and Vital Healthcare Property Trust fell 1.6 per cent to $2.155.