Auckland Airport is gearing up for its busiest April school holidays in years, with 846,000 travellers expected between 12 and 27 April.

Of those, 437,000 will head overseas—many bound for Australia, America or China—while 409,000 will fly domestically to hotspots like Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.

The biggest days are right around the corner.

On Sunday 27 April, 14,000 international travellers are expected to depart—the busiest day for overseas flights.

The peak for domestic arrivals is Thursday 17 April, with 13,700 passengers coming through.

Auckland Airport Chief Operations Officer Chloe Surridge says her team is well prepared for the seasonal spike, which coincides with Easter and Anzac Day falling in the same fortnight for the first time since 2022.

“Many Kiwis are taking the opportunity for a ten-day break,” she said.

“We’re working closely with airlines and agencies to make travel smooth, and we ask everyone to allow extra time and pack some patience.”

The international terminal’s covered drop-off area has seen over 3.2 million vehicles pass through since opening a year ago.

With a three-minute dwell time in place, the airport reminds Coasties picking up or dropping off loved ones to keep things moving.

Travel tips include:

• Complete your NZ Traveller Declaration online.
• Use on-site hotels for early morning flights.
• Keep laptops and liquids in your bag when going through CT scanner lanes.
• Check for scanner trial signs on domestic flights.

With 26 airlines flying to 42 destinations, Auckland Airport remains a key hub for holiday-makers across the country—including many heading to or from the Hibiscus Coast.

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