Air New Zealand is expecting a bumper summer. 

The airline says 12 thousand people will travel in and out of Auckland on its flights today, with the city's borders now open. 

Chief executive Greg Foran says they're operating nearly a third higher than normal until January 31. 

And he says there'll be 15 to 20 percent more people travelling in the lead up to Christmas. 

“Well over 300,000 people now are booked to fly between 15th and 31st which puts us well ahead of last year for that period.” 

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