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CHC · large airport

Christchurch International Airport

Christchurch, New Zealand

Airports
CHClarge airport

Christchurch International Airport

Christchurch, New Zealand
Explore Christchurch city guide Navigate to this airport
34
Routes out
20
Destinations
NZCH
ICAO
123 ft
Elevation
TravelerPulse profile

New Zealand's gateway to the South Island and Antarctica.

Opened
1940
Location
Christchurch, New Zealand
Christchurch International Airport (CHC/NZCH) is the largest airport on New Zealand's South Island and the second-busiest airport in the country by international passenger movements. It serves as the primary hub for air travel to and from the Canterbury region and acts as a key transit point for flights throughout the South Pacific. The airport is notable for its role as a gateway to Antarctica, hosting the United States Antarctic Program and other national Antarctic programmes that stage logistics flights to McMurdo Station and other research bases on the continent. This gives Christchurch a unique strategic importance beyond typical commercial aviation. The airport is owned by Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL), with the Christchurch City Council holding a majority stake. It handles both international and domestic operations from a modern integrated terminal and has undergone significant redevelopment following the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.
Terminals
The airport operates a single integrated terminal building handling both international and domestic passengers, with a shared arrivals and departures facility.
Getting to & from
The airport is connected to central Christchurch by public bus (Metro Purple Line), taxi, rideshare services, and rental cars, with the city centre approximately 10 kilometres away.
Airlines here
Major airlines operating at CHC include Air New Zealand (primary hub), Jetstar, Qantas, China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific, among other international carriers.
Notable facts
  • ›Serves as the primary staging hub for international Antarctic research programmes, including the U.S. Antarctic Program.
  • ›Second-busiest international airport in New Zealand after Auckland.
  • ›The airport sustained damage in the 2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence, prompting major infrastructure upgrades.
  • ›Christchurch International Airport Limited is majority-owned by the Christchurch City Council.
  • ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 37 feet (11 metres) above sea level on the Canterbury Plains.
Official website Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
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Route map (20 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

CHC → SYDAA · 737
CHC → SYDEK · 77W
CHC → SINET · 772
CHC → AKLJQ · 320
CHC → MELJQ · 320
CHC → OOLJQ · 320
CHC → SYDJQ · 320
CHC → WLGJQ · 320
CHC → SYDMU · 73H
CHC → AKLNZ · 320 733
CHC → BHENZ · BEH
CHC → BNENZ · 320
CHC → DUDNZ · AT7 DH3
CHC → HKKNZ · BEH DH3
CHC → HLZNZ · DH3 AT7
CHC → IVCNZ · AT7 DH3
CHC → MELNZ · 320
CHC → NPENZ · DH3
CHC → NPLNZ · DH3
CHC → NSNNZ · DH3
CHC → OOLNZ · 320
CHC → PMRNZ · DH3 AT7
CHC → PPQNZ · DH3
CHC → ROTNZ · AT7
CHC → SYDNZ · 320
CHC → TRGNZ · DH3
CHC → WLGNZ · 320 733 DH3
CHC → ZQNNZ · 320
CHC → SYDQF · 73H 77W
CHC → SINSQ · 772
CHC → BNEVA · 320
CHC → MELVA · 320 73H
CHC → OOLVA · 320
CHC → SYDVA · 320
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City & Place Guide

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Christchurch Airport
Encyclopaedia

Christchurch Airport is an international airport serving Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located 12 km (7.5 mi) to the northwest of the city centre, in the suburb of Harewood. Christchurch (Harewood) Airport officially opened on 18 May 1940 and became New Zealand's first international airport on 16 December 1950. It is New Zealand's second busiest airport by annual passengers and aircraft movements, after Auckland and only one of two airports in New Zealand that regularly handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. The airport is curfew free, operating 24 hours a day.

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