News
Auckland Airport says the demand for “Southern Link” service is growing
June 26th 2026
Auckland Airport said it is seeing growing demand for its Southern Link service between China and South America, which launched by China Eastern Airlines (CEA) in December 2025. Read More » From December 2026, the service will double to four flights per week. Also, Argentine visitor arrivals to New Zealand were up 35% between December 2025 and March 2026. The air cargo export value to Argentina reached $7.3 million since the launch, 127% up on the same period the year before. Combined with the dedicated capacity on LATAM Airlines to Santiago, exports through Auckland Airport via Buenos Aires and Santiago grew 120% year-on-year to 105 tonnes, with total export value to South America up 22% to $28.6m. “This service has quickly become an important link between China, New Zealand, and South America," Auckland Airport’s chief customer officer Scott Tasker told Radio New Zealand (RNZ).
