A better than forecast half-year result for Christchurch Airport is being seen as a win for the city as a whole

The interim result reveals total income is up 19.9 percent on last year, while net surplus has increased 34 percent to 21.5 million.

Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says it means Christchurch City - a 75 percent shareholder in the airport - will receive a higher than forecast interim dividend of 19-million dollars.

He says any over-achievement of dividends helps the city economically, but the increase in visitors arriving and spending money in the city also delivers economic value.