# Christchurch International Airport (CHC / NZCH)

**Christchurch International Airport** (IATA: CHC, ICAO: NZCH) is a large airport in Christchurch, Canterbury Region, New Zealand. It opened on 18 May 1940. It has 3 runways; the longest is 3,288 m (10,787 ft). In 2021 it handled 3.7 million passengers.

Web page: https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzch

## At a glance

- IATA / ICAO: CHC / NZCH
- Type: Large airport
- Owner: Government of New Zealand
- Serves: Christchurch, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
- Opened: 18 May 1940
- Elevation: 38 m / 123 ft
- Coordinates: -43.4890, 172.5321
- Runways: 3
- Longest runway: 3,288 m / 10,787 ft
- Passengers: 3,705,373 (2021)
- Time zone: UTC+13/+12 · Pacific/Auckland
- Website: http://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Airport (36 languages)
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1061330
- Weather station: NZCH · WMO 93780
- Ident: NZCH

## Timeline

- 18 May 1940: Christchurch International Airport opens.

## Runways

| Ident | Length | Width | Surface | True headings | Lighted |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/20 | 3,288 m / 10,787 ft | 45 m / 148 ft | Asphalt | 041° / 221° | yes |
| 11/29 | 1,703 m / 5,587 ft | 45 m / 148 ft | Asphalt | 131° / 311° | yes |
| 01/19 | 515 m / 1,690 ft | 70 m / 229 ft | Grass | 038° / 218° |  |

## Passengers per year

| Year | Passengers | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2011 | 5,592,529 | Wikidata |
| 2012 | 5,485,025 | Wikidata |
| 2013 | 5,576,821 | Wikidata |
| 2014 | 6,093,911 | Wikidata |
| 2015 | 6,439,703 | Wikidata |
| 2016 | 6,444,524 | Wikidata |
| 2017 | 6,732,730 | Wikidata |
| 2018 | 6,868,948 | Wikidata |
| 2019 | 6,931,441 | Wikidata |
| 2020 | 5,194,982 | Wikidata |
| 2021 | 3,705,373 | Wikidata |

## Routes

30 destinations in 10 countries. From the airport's Wikipedia article.

### Year-round (23)

- [HKK](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzhk.md) Hokitika Airfield · New Zealand · 152 km / 94 mi · Air New Zealand
- [BHE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzwb.md) Woodbourne Airport · New Zealand · 245 km / 152 mi · Originair
- [NSN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzns.md) Nelson Airport · New Zealand · 250 km / 155 mi · Air New Zealand, Originair
- [WLG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzwn.md) Wellington International Airport · New Zealand · 304 km / 189 mi · Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways
- [DUD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzdn.md) Dunedin International Airport · New Zealand · 328 km / 204 mi · Air New Zealand
- [ZQN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzqn.md) Queenstown Airport · New Zealand · 346 km / 215 mi · Air New Zealand
- [PMR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzpm.md) Palmerston North Airport · New Zealand · 435 km / 270 mi · Air New Zealand, Originair
- [IVC](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nznv.md) Invercargill Airport · New Zealand · 465 km / 289 mi · Air New Zealand
- [NPL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nznp.md) New Plymouth Airport · New Zealand · 517 km / 321 mi · Air New Zealand
- [NPE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nznr.md) Hawke's Bay Airport · New Zealand · 575 km / 357 mi · Air New Zealand
- [HLZ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzhn.md) Hamilton International Airport · New Zealand · 668 km / 415 mi · Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways
- [ROT](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzro.md) Rotorua Regional Airport · New Zealand · 678 km / 421 mi · Air New Zealand
- [TRG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nztg.md) Tauranga Airport · New Zealand · 717 km / 446 mi · Air New Zealand
- [AKL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzaa.md) Auckland International Airport · New Zealand · 745 km / 463 mi · Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways
- [CHT](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzci.md) Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport · New Zealand · 885 km / 550 mi · Air Chathams
- [SYD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yssy.md) Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport · Australia · 2,126 km / 1,321 mi · Emirates, Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways, Jetstar Airways
- [OOL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybcg.md) Gold Coast Airport · Australia · 2,406 km / 1,495 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [MEL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ymml.md) Melbourne Airport · Australia · 2,414 km / 1,500 mi · Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways, Jetstar Airways
- [BNE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybbn.md) Brisbane International Airport · Australia · 2,498 km / 1,552 mi · Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways
- [VLI](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nvvv.md) Bauerfield International Airport · Vanuatu · 2,895 km / 1,799 mi · Solomon Airlines
- [NAN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nffn.md) Nadi International Airport · Fiji · 2,898 km / 1,801 mi · Fiji Airways
- [CNS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybcs.md) Cairns International Airport · Australia · 3,887 km / 2,415 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [DXB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/omdb.md) Dubai International Airport · United Arab Emirates · 14,053 km / 8,732 mi · Emirates

### Seasonal (8)

- [OOL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybcg.md) Gold Coast Airport · Australia · 2,406 km / 1,495 mi · Air New Zealand
- [ADL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ypad.md) Adelaide International Airport · Australia · 3,055 km / 1,898 mi · Air New Zealand
- [RAR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ncrg.md) Rarotonga International Airport · Cook Islands · 3,559 km / 2,211 mi · Air New Zealand
- [PER](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ypph.md) Perth International Airport · Australia · 5,038 km / 3,130 mi · Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways
- [SIN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wsss.md) Singapore Changi Airport · Singapore · 8,403 km / 5,221 mi · Air New Zealand
- [NRT](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rjaa.md) Narita International Airport · Japan · 9,394 km / 5,837 mi · Air New Zealand
- [HKG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/vhhh.md) Hong Kong International Airport · Hong Kong SAR China · 9,445 km / 5,869 mi · Cathay Pacific
- [SFO](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ksfo.md) San Francisco International Airport · United States · 11,148 km / 6,927 mi · United Airlines

### Cargo (5)

- [PMR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzpm.md) Palmerston North Airport · New Zealand · 435 km / 270 mi · Texel Air Australasia, Parcelair
- [AKL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzaa.md) Auckland International Airport · New Zealand · 745 km / 463 mi · Texel Air Australasia, Airwork, Parcelair, DHL Aviation, FedEx Express, ASL Airlines Australia, Qantas Freight
- [SYD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yssy.md) Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport · Australia · 2,126 km / 1,321 mi · DHL Aviation, FedEx Express, ASL Airlines Australia, Qantas Freight
- [MEL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ymml.md) Melbourne Airport · Australia · 2,414 km / 1,500 mi · DHL Aviation, FedEx Express, ASL Airlines Australia, Qantas Freight
- [BNE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybbn.md) Brisbane International Airport · Australia · 2,498 km / 1,552 mi · ASL Airlines Australia

## Airlines

The figure is how many destinations each airline flies from CHC, as the routes above have them. Hubs from Wikidata.

### Hub airlines (2)

- NM [Mount Cook Airline](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/mount-cook-airline)
- VA [Virgin Australia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/virgin-australia)

### Passenger (10)

- NZ [Air New Zealand](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-new-zealand) · 22
- JQ [Jetstar Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/jetstar-airways) · 8
- OG [Originair](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/originair) · 3
- QF [Qantas Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/qantas-airways) · 3
- EK [Emirates](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/emirates) · 2
- CV [Air Chathams](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-chathams) · 1
- CX [Cathay Pacific](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/cathay-pacific) · 1 · seasonal
- FJ [Fiji Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/fiji-airways) · 1
- IE [Solomon Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/solomon-airlines) · 1
- UA [United Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/united-airlines) · 1 · seasonal

### Cargo (7)

- PH [ASL Airlines Australia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/asl-airlines-australia) · 4
- [DHL Aviation](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/dhl-aviation) · 3
- FX [FedEx Express](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/fedex-express) · 3
- QF [Qantas Freight](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/qantas-freight) · 3
- APK [Parcelair](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/parcelair) · 2
- TNZ [Texel Air Australasia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/texel-air-australasia) · 2
- AWK [Airwork](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/airwork) · 1

Former hub of [Air Nelson](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-nelson), [Eagle Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/eagle-airways).

## Rankings

Ranked among 48,075 open airports; = marks a shared place.

| Measure | Value | World | Region | Country |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Passengers | 3.7M (2021) | #408 of 3,974 | #13 in Oceania | #3 in NZ |
| Longest runway | 3,288 m / 10,787 ft | #745 of 29,858 | #14 in Oceania | #2 in NZ |
| Elevation | 38 m / 123 ft | =36,121 of 43,403 | =1,475 in Oceania | #112 in NZ |
| Age | Opened 1940 | =1,114 of 15,079 | =38 in Oceania | =4 in NZ |
| Runways | 3 | =151 of 29,978 | =22 in Oceania | =13 in NZ |

## Radio frequencies

| Type | Description | MHz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| APP | APP | 124.100 |
| ATIS | ATIS | 127.200 |
| GND | GND | 121.900 |
| OPS | AMC OPS | 122.500 |
| TWR | TWR | 118.400 |
| Delivery | Delivery | 128.200 |
| CTRL | Control | 120.900 |

## Nearby airports

- [NZWL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzwl.md) West Melton Aerodrome · 11 km / 7.0 mi
- [NZ-0012](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nz-0012.md) Kings (Ladbrooks) · 17 km / 10 mi
- [NZ-0011](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nz-0011.md) Worthy Lodge airstrip (Ladbrooks) · 17 km / 10 mi
- [NZFF](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzff.md) Forest Field Aerodrome · 18 km / 11 mi
- [NZFE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzfe.md) Fernside Fields Airpark · 19 km / 12 mi
- [NZ-0015](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nz-0015.md) Taitapu Ag strip · 21 km / 13 mi

## Sources

- [NOAA Aviation Weather Center](https://aviationweather.gov/data/api/): Weather data: NOAA Aviation Weather Center (Public Domain (US Government))
- [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/): Airport data from OurAirports (Public Domain)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org): Structured data from Wikidata (CC0 1.0)
- [Wikipedia: “Christchurch Airport”](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christchurch_Airport&oldid=1376073958), revision of 21 Sep 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- [timezone-boundary-builder](https://github.com/evansiroky/timezone-boundary-builder): Time zone boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors, timezone-boundary-builder (ODbL 1.0)
- Every figure with its source: https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzch/data