Auckland International Airport Ltd handled 582,000 passengers in November, 5% more than in the same month a year earlier.
Travel by New Zealanders also bounced back, rising more than 9% since the Rugby World Cup.
Passenger numbers from China rose more than 18%, as China Southern Airlines began daily services to Auckland.
At Queenstown Airport, international passenger numbers rose 62%, due to more services from Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
At Cairns airport, international patronage rose 12%, while domestic patronage rose 11% at Mackay Airport.