CHClarge airport

Christchurch International Airport

Christchurch, New Zealand

Explore Christchurch city guide Navigate to this airport

Routes out

Destinations

ICAO

NZCH

Elevation

123 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Christchurch International Airport

CHC

Location

Christchurch · CAN · New Zealand

Connectivity

34 routes · 20 destinations

Position

-43.489°, 172.532° · 123 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

NZeTA, Visitor VisaOfficial

AI Travel Editor

A closer look

Living guide content for Christchurch International Airport — read or listen in 46+ languages.

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TravelerPulse profile

Gateway to the South Island and Antarctic gateway hub.

Opened

1940

Location

Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch International Airport (CHC/NZCH) is the largest airport in New Zealand's South Island and the country's second-busiest international airport. Located approximately 10 kilometres northwest of Christchurch city centre, it serves as a major hub for domestic travel across the South Island and handles significant international traffic from Australia, Asia, and beyond. The airport plays a unique strategic role as the primary gateway for Antarctic research operations, supporting logistics for programs run by New Zealand, the United States, Italy, and South Korea. It is home to the International Antarctic Centre adjacent to the terminal precinct. The airport is owned and operated by Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL), a company partially owned by the Christchurch City Council and the New Zealand government. Ongoing terminal redevelopment and infrastructure upgrades have modernised facilities in recent years.

Terminals

The airport has a single integrated terminal building handling both domestic and international passengers, with ongoing upgrades to expand capacity and improve the passenger experience.

Getting to & from

The airport is connected to central Christchurch by public bus (Metro Purple Line), taxis, rideshare services, and rental cars, with the city centre reachable in approximately 20 minutes.

Airlines here

Major airlines operating at CHC include Air New Zealand (primary domestic and international carrier), Qantas, Jetstar, China Southern, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.

Notable facts

›Christchurch Airport serves as the primary logistics base for Antarctic research missions, earning it the nickname 'Gateway to Antarctica.'
›The International Antarctic Centre, a major tourist attraction, is located directly adjacent to the airport terminal.
›It is the second-busiest international airport in New Zealand after Auckland Airport.
›The airport is partially owned by the Christchurch City Council, which holds a 75% stake.
›Runway 02/20 is the primary runway, measuring approximately 3,288 metres in length.

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.

Route map (20 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

China Eastern Airlines

Air New Zealand

Qantas

Singapore Airlines Cargo

Routes

CHC → SYDAA · 737

CHC → SYDEK · 77W

CHC → SINET · 772

CHC → OOLJQ · 320

CHC → MELJQ · 320

CHC → AKLJQ · 320

CHC → WLGJQ · 320

CHC → SYDJQ · 320

CHC → SYDMU · 73H

CHC → BHENZ · BEH

CHC → HLZNZ · DH3 AT7

CHC → IVCNZ · AT7 DH3

CHC → NPLNZ · DH3

CHC → ROTNZ · AT7

CHC → WLGNZ · 320 733 DH3

CHC → AKLNZ · 320 733

CHC → BNENZ · 320

CHC → HKKNZ · BEH DH3

CHC → MELNZ · 320

CHC → NPENZ · DH3

CHC → OOLNZ · 320

CHC → PPQNZ · DH3

CHC → SYDNZ · 320

CHC → NSNNZ · DH3

CHC → TRGNZ · DH3

CHC → DUDNZ · AT7 DH3

CHC → PMRNZ · DH3 AT7

CHC → ZQNNZ · 320

CHC → SYDQF · 73H 77W

CHC → SINSQ · 772

CHC → BNEVA · 320

CHC → OOLVA · 320

CHC → SYDVA · 320

CHC → MELVA · 320 73H

Aircraft operating here

Airbus A32016 routes De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 Dash 811 routes Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 725 routes 73H3 routes Boeing 777-300ER2 routes Boeing 777-2002 routes Beechcraft 19002 routes Boeing 737-3002 routes Boeing 7371 routes

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City & Place Guide

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via CHC? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for New Zealand from official government sources.

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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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