Auckland Airport is building a new terminal that will combine domestic and international transfers, check-ins, and bag drops in one location. However, this construction may cause disruptions for up to 20 million travelers per year until the project is completed in 2029. The nearly $4 billion project will replace the airport’s old domestic terminal, which was first opened in 1966.
The new terminal will not be luxurious, but it will focus on the basics, according to Scott Tasker, Auckland Airport’s chief customer officer. The new building will connect the domestic and international terminals, allowing travelers to transfer between domestic and international flights without leaving the airport. Both international and domestic passengers will be able to check in at the same location with new kiosks and automatic bag drops.
The new terminal will provide better navigation for travelers, more seating areas, phone charging stations, improved bathroom facilities, and more capacity for airlines to add flights during peak times. However, Tasker warns that there will be disruptions for the next five years while construction is underway. Despite this, he assures that the airport is working hard to minimize these disruptions and asks for customers’ patience, promising that the end result will be worth the wait.
The new terminal, which is expected to open in 2029, is necessary for Auckland Airport to have an efficient domestic terminal. The terminal itself costs $2.2 billion, with associated works, including airfield upgrades, costing about $1.7 billion. Despite the high cost, Tasker says the terminal is comparable to other international terminals of a similar size. He also mentions that domestic flight charges will increase from $10.25 per passenger to $15.45 by 2027, which is similar to charges at other major New Zealand airports.
Last year, the airport’s domestic terminal was severely damaged by knee-high flood waters during a storm. In response, substantial stormwater upgrades have been made in the north of the precinct to prevent future damage.
The new terminal’s best features will be hidden from view, according to project director Isaac Taylor. The new baggage system, for example, will be a significant improvement in terms of efficiency with passenger baggage and loading onto the aircraft. The new terminal will use an “individual carrier system”, which is faster and less prone to jamming than a typical conveyor belt.
The current terminal can only service about 15,000 passengers each day, but the new terminal will increase this capacity to about 20,000 passengers per day, a 26% increase. Construction work on the new terminal will begin later in 2024.
