Latest updates
The future integrated terminal’s ‘baggage pit’
April 2025
Piling and foundation excavation works have started along the eastern and southern side of our new domestic jet terminal, where the existing international terminal meets the new structure. The new domestic jet terminal will connect seamlessly with the current international terminal, delivering a smoother and more spacious experience for Aotearoa’s future travellers.
When it comes to the centralised storage area for the future integrated terminal’s baggage handling system, we’re digging deep. The space being created for the baggage storage, colloquially known as the baggage pit, is larger than an Olympic swimming pool, and just as deep. And just as well, as the area will need to be able to store up to 3,000 bags at any given time once operational.
Stormceptor: Airfield expansion progress above and below ground
April 2025
We’re progressing key surface level and below ground elements as part of expanding our Northern Airfield.
On the surface, we’ve nearly finished laying the concrete slabs for the expansion of the airfield, with only a small corner of the area still to be filled in under the location of our new remote stands. Over the next two months, we’ll complete the concrete pavement for the extension of Taxiway Lima to provide access to these new stand areas. This expansion will provide five new fully serviced stands for passenger aircraft, an additional un-serviced stand for cargo or parking, as well as remote space for overnight parking if we need it.
Below ground, upgrade work has continued on our extensive stormwater network with a new Stormceptor being installed next to Taxiway Lima. It’s a device that intercepts and removes pollutants from stormwater run-off before discharging it to the western wetlands.
New Panther on the Prowl
20 February 2025
Recently we formally welcomed the latest addition to our firefighting team - a first-of-its-kind Panther fire truck.
Manufactured by specialist Austrian company Rosenbauer, our new Panther 8x8 HRET fire truck is marketed as the very top of the food chain. We are the first airport in the Southern Hemisphere to invest in this model, and it joins the existing fleet of four 6x6 Panthers.
The 8x8 HRET has greater water capacity than our existing fleet and the extendable turret allows the AES team to deliberately and safely direct water in close, instead of running out a hose.
The investment is part of our wider commitment to keep growing our emergency capabilities as the number of flights and travellers passing through the airport grows.
WATCH: Vertical construction begins on domestic jet terminal
20 February 2025
Steel columns are being craned into place as vertical construction begins on the main building of Auckland Airport’s new domestic jet terminal.
Rising up to 21m above the ground, the columns will become the support structure for the domestic terminal headhouse – the main engine room of the new terminal.
The headhouse will contain the domestic arrivals and baggage pick-up area, traveller amenities, operational management spaces, airline lounges and dwell spaces, plus a new state of the art baggage system.
Each column for the structure makes a pre-dawn journey on truck and trailer from the west Auckland fabrication workshop of D&H Steel Construction.
The 12,000m2 facility has been busy working on the airport job since late last year, with a 50-strong fabrication team working two 10-hour shifts to prepare 1,600 tonnes of column steel and another 3,000 tonnes of associated steel structures such as floor beams, lift shafts, roof structures and façade support for the initial stage of construction.
The five-year long project is due for completion in 2029.
Self-service check-in coming to AKL
New self-service kiosks and bag drops at the international terminal have now gone into operation and are being used by our passengers for checking in. We’re starting with a small group of five airlines as early adopters and will then progressively add more airlines. Over the next few years around 100 existing check-in counters will be replaced with self-service kiosks and bag drops.
When complete, the new self-service kiosks and bag drops will be available to all travelers no matter what airline they’re on, meaning multiple airlines can be checking in from the same kiosks in a zone at the same time. Although much of the process will be self-service, airport and airline teams will still be on hand to support travelers and with the Interim Zone E it is no different. Friendly airport staff will be on hand to assist any passengers who need help.
First LED runway lights in New Zealand for low visibility touchdowns
Our runway is being seen in a whole new light with a switch to LED runway lights to guide aircraft during take-off and landing. Shining bright down the length of the 3.6km runway, around 600 light-emitting diode (LED) lights, have replaced a halogen lamp system – work all done under the cover of darkness.
The 240 new LED in-ground runway centreline, 186 touchdown zone, 52 threshold, 124 runway edge and 18 runway end lights now in place will be individually tracked and monitored with all details digitally recorded. From the moment an LED light is installed we have a full record of its performance – including a complete log of every time it is cleaned or the bolts tightened through to any maintenance done.