Christchurch International Airport Guide

Christchurch International Airport sits in the Harewood suburb, northwest of central Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island. It opened in 1940 and gained international status a decade later, in 1950. Christchurch City Council and the New Zealand Government jointly own the airport, which is run by Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL).

The airport ranks second in New Zealand for both passenger numbers and aircraft movements, trailing only Auckland. It is one of just two airports nationwide equipped to handle the Airbus A380. A single integrated terminal, divided into connected domestic and international wings, handles all scheduled traffic, while a separate grass strip accommodates general aviation and aero club flying.

Christchurch is the principal gateway for Antarctic research flights, supporting the New Zealand, United States, Italian, and South Korean Antarctic programs. More than 100 flights leave for the continent each year, and the airport estimates every dollar of its own earnings generates roughly fifty dollars for the wider South Island economy.