Auckland Airport is embarking on multi-million dollar promotional campaign with airlines, to boost flailing tourist numbers.
It comes after a prediction by the International Air Transport Association that the economic crisis will result in the global aviation industry loosing $US9 billion this year.
Airport chief executive Simon Moutter says it is the first time the airport has promoted New Zealand tourism in conjunction with airlines and operators.
He says a winter ski holiday promotion with Emirates and a newspaper advertising campaign in India with Malaysia Airlines are the first projects to get underway.
Mr Moutter says six more projects are in the pipeline and the airport will fund each one on a case-by-case basis.
He expects the total cost to be several million dollars per year.
