Christchurch Airport is the international gateway to the South Island. It is the busiest and most strategic southern air connection to the world's trade and tourism markets, welcomed almost seven million passengers in the most recent financial year and increased passenger numbers at more than twice the national average.

The airport is a major driver of the South Island regional economy, with almost 7000 personnel working for 3000 companies on the airport campus making it the largest site of employment in the South Island. It is one of the partners in the “South” initiative, which sees all 13 regional tourism organisations working collegially to promote the South Island.

Christchurch Airport was recently named in the World Airport Awards as one of the best airports in the world and has, for the past five years, been consistently rated by an independent international quarterly travellers’ survey as the best airport in Australia and New Zealand.