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3 Jul 2025

Facts about Christchurch Airport (that you probably didn’t know)

How much do you know about Christchurch Airport? We’re stoked about what we’ve achieved here and love sharing details from behind the scenes. Read on to discover a little more about our history, technology, initiatives, environmental journey, artworks and more.

  1. We became NZ’s first international airport in 1950.
  2. We have a team of furry helpers, in the form of pet therapy dogs. These four-legged friends are available in the terminal during peak periods, ready to help calm nervous travellers. 
  3. One of the many things which set our airport apart is our collection of themed air bridges. Each unique air bridge features floor to ceiling imagery of a special southern landscape, accompanied by the scene's distinctive sounds and scents (yes, really!). 
  4. We have a team of volunteers to help visitors at the airport – Airport Ambassadors.
  5. All but two of our aircraft gates have direct connections to the terminal mains power supply so planes don’t need to use their on board Auxiliary Power Units. For an A320, this reduces emissions by approx 2000kg of CO2e per day, and around $340 USD in fuel costs.
  6. Ōtautahi Christchurch is the world’s main gateway to Antarctica and delivers $80 million in direct benefits to Christchurch annually.
  7. Our baggage handling system has two kilometres of conveyer belts powered by more than 500 motors. It’s just over ten years old and has already safely handled 20 million bags. That’s a lot of luggage!
  8. In the 12 months between 1st July 2023 and 30th June 2024 we saw almost 63,000 flights, with a total of 6.25 million passengers travelling through the airport. That’s more than the entire population of New Zealand!
  9. We are the Southern Hemisphere’s only Level 5 ACA airport and in June 2025 was named the Platinum Category Winner of the Airports Council International’s Green Airports Recognition 2025
  10. Our Living Wall breathes life into our airport – literally! Overlooking the bag claim area, the 29m2 wall showcases the plant life of Aoraki/Mt Cook and gives travellers a unique welcome to the South Island. Did you know it’s made up of 2,592 plants?
  11. The sculpture in the plaza (Cumulus Gate Pavilion) is made up of 1,000 pieces of hand-cut stainless steel, held in place by 8,000 bolts. Created by New Zealand artist Gregor Kregar to honour South Island inventor Richard Pearse, this impressive piece of artistic engineering has been designed to mirror the sky by day and the footlights by night.
  12. Our light and sound walkway outside Novotel isn’t just a functional piece of infrastructure to protect people from the weather. It’s also an art installation, which reacts to your movement, speed and direction as you move through it. Tip: the interaction happens both day and night, but you’ll get the full experience when it’s dark!
  13. We have a team that sorts through red bin waste - pulling out all the recyclables, glass, organics and liquids so they don’t end up in landfill. Our diversion rate is already over 50% and our goal is to get it to 80%.
  14. You can watch some of the street art at the airport come to life! Download the free 'Plain Sight' app then see what happens to the Orange-Fronted Parakeet in the mural under the Express Park building and the surfer in the Canterbury mural at Gate 15.
  15. The Antarctic Walkway follows an axis from Christchurch Airport to the International Antarctic Centre, it’s not just a functional piece of infrastructure to protect people from the weather but also an art installation, which reacts to your movement, speed and direction as you move through it.
  16. We’re building a renewable energy park, Kōwhai Park, to support the nationwide transition to zero emissions energy. Kōwhai Park will have the same carbon benefit as planting around 1.25 million native trees and shrubs.
  17. We’ve turned unrecyclable plastic into roads. In partnership with Fulton Hogan we’ve undertaken the first commercial trial, with 250 tonnes of PlastiPhalt® laid at the airport’s fire station. It’s the ultimate test with fire engines weighing up to 60 tonnes driving over it.
  18. We are the proud owners of one of the world’s first electric fire truck to operate at an airport.
  19. We are the only major international airport in New Zealand that can operate 24/7.
  20. We are the South Islands biggest employment centre with 250 businesses and over 8000 employees.
  21. Our airport owns two world class water treatment plants, drawing and processing over 2.5 million litres of water for 9000 customers every day. 
  22. We have an endemic dryland habitat on site that is home to some biodiversity treasures that only exist here – these include native copper butterflies and tiny purple orchids.
  23. We are proud supporters of Kairos food rescue – who divert excess food that would otherwise end up in waste to those who need it most. This includes the delicious food from the Christchurch Airport lounges.
  24. In October 2020 New Zealand’s first electric aircraft “ElectricAir” was launched at Christchurch Airport, supported with electric charging infrastructure, ElectricAir continues to commercially operate here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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