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CHC Christchurch International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Christchurch International Airport (CHC) serves Christchurch, about 10 km northwest of Christchurch. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATACHC
ICAONZCH
ServesChristchurch
From centre10 km
Non-stop20
Airlines9
TimezonePacific/Auckland
Elevation37 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Christchurch International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Christchurch International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 497,893 passengers in 2022, against a peak of 6.9M in 2019.

Opened
1940
86 years ago
Passengers / year
497,893
as of 2022
Peak traffic
6.9M
in 2019
Elevation
37 מ׳
above sea level
Passengers per year, 1998–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Airport to city

Getting from Christchurch International Airport to Christchurch

The airport is about 10 km northwest of Christchurch, about 20 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: No airport rail. Auckland (SkyDrive / SkyBus to the centre), Wellington and Christchurch have a city bus.

Taxi & apps: Metered taxi, or Uber/Ola/Zoomy (legal). Estimated fare to the centre: NZ$24–NZ$37.

Tipping: Not customary.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~15 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~20 minNZ$24–NZ$37
Private transfer~20 minfixed upfront
Car rental~20 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Christchurch International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~NZ$24–NZ$37 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Christchurch ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Christchurch International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 20 destinations, operated by 9 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Air New Zealand · Jetstar Airways · Virgin Australia · American Airlines · Qantas · Singapore Airlines · China Eastern Airlines · Emirates · Ethiopian Airlines

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Christchurch International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Christchurch International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Christchurch shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Christchurch International Airport

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Same country

Other airports in New Zealand

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Christchurch International Airport to the centre of Christchurch?
No airport rail. Auckland (SkyDrive / SkyBus to the centre), Wellington and Christchurch have a city bus. The airport is about 10 km northwest of Christchurch, about 20 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Christchurch International Airport to Christchurch?
Roughly NZ$24–NZ$37 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Christchurch International Airport?
Metered taxi, or Uber/Ola/Zoomy (legal).
What's the cheapest way from Christchurch International Airport to Christchurch?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. No airport rail. Auckland (SkyDrive / SkyBus to the centre), Wellington and Christchurch have a city bus.
Can I get from Christchurch International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. No airport rail. Auckland (SkyDrive / SkyBus to the centre), Wellington and Christchurch have a city bus. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Christchurch International Airport?
About 20 destinations, including Sydney, Coolangatta, Melbourne, Brisbane. 9 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Christchurch International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Christchurch International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Christchurch International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Christchurch city guide← New Zealand travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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