Christchurch International Airport is a major transit airport for international and domestic travellers. There are international services to and from Australia, Cook Islands (seasonal winter flights only), Fiji, Japan, Malaysia ( the last service will leave Christchurch on the 31st of May 2012), Singapore, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. There are frequent daily flights to and from most New Zealand airports (domestic), with direct flights to and from Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Dunedin, Invercargill, Queenstown, Nelson and many more destinations. The domestic airlines that serve Christchurch are Air New Zealand and Jetstar Airways

Flights to and from McMurdo Station in Antarctica also use the airport. This is one of the few international airports in the world where military and civilian aircraft regularly share the same runways. There is a regular public bus service to the city centre. The 20-30 minute trip costs $7 and the buses operate half-hourly during the week and at least hourly on weekends. A door to door shuttle bus service to all parts of Christchurch is available from $20 for the first person, $5 per subsequent person. Taxi stands (about $45 to the city centre) and rental car parks are also close to the terminal building. If you have a few hours to spare and no heavy luggage, you can also walk to the airport. There is a separate footpath alongside Fendalton Road/Memorial Avenue all the way to the airport and the around 8km walk is quite pleasant through residential neighbourhoods