Wellington, Oct 28 NZPA - The world financial crisis, the Olympic Games and earthquakes in China, have been blamed for curbing international passenger volumes through Auckland International Airport in September.

International passenger numbers (486,894) were 5.9 percent down on the same month last year (517,620), but overall international passenger volumes were up 1 percent on a 12 month rolling basis, according to the airport's monthly traffic update.

The school holidays moving into October by a week this year, (compared to last year when they were in September) meant September's New Zealand resident arrivals decreased by 8779.

H owever, on a 12-month rolling basis New Zealand resident arrivals were up 19,046.

Major markets showing a downward trend were the United States, United Kingdom, China and Korea.

Chinese arrivals dropped by 2137 in August and 2588 in September, supposedly due to the Olympic Games in August, May's Sichuan earthquake, and travel bans for government officials.

Arrivals from Australia were up 3.1 percent for September, with the trans-Tasman market having increased with new carrier capacity starting late in September, and increased short haul-travel as long-haul became more expensive.

India and Germany showed a continuing upward trend with September arrivals up 6 percent and 20.8 percent respectively, and on a 12-month rolling basis arrival volumes were up 2748 and 2488 respectively.

Domestic passenger volumes continued the upward trend, up 44,236 compared with the same month last year. Competition in the domestic market continued to drive strong growth.

International aircraft movements and domestic aircraft movements increased in September by 3.4 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively, a result of new carriers and smaller planes being utilised in the shorter sectors.

Financial year to date international aircraft movements were up 3.5 percent on the same period last year, and domestic movements up 4.6 percent.

NZPA WGT dw kn