The big picture

Auckland Airport is a key enabler of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s economy and a vital contributor to New Zealand’s prosperity. It connects business, tourism and trade, helping drive progress across the country.

Since opening in 1966 at the dawn of the passenger jet age, Auckland Airport has kept evolving to meet the needs of modern travel. Around the world, airports are transforming, and here in Aotearoa, the desire to travel runs strong. At Auckland Airport we’re proud to play our part in supporting travel today, and for generations to come.

As the country’s main international gateway, AKL operates 24/7, supporting 26 airlines flying to 23 domestic and 42 international destinations. In the 2024 financial year, more than 18 million passengers passed through our terminals – around 50,000 people every day – and we handled $34 billion in import and export cargo.

The airport precinct is a hub of activity and innovation. Our aeronautical infrastructure includes runways, taxiways, aircraft parking areas, terminals for passengers and freight and hangars. Everything is designed to serve aircraft, people, and cargo safely and efficiently.

About 25,000 people work in and around the airport, making it the largest employment centre in the region outside Auckland’s CBD. The airport’s location on the shores of the Manukau Harbour brings a deep sense of kaitiakitanga (guardianship). We work in partnership with mana whenua, engaging on tikanga (customs), sharing knowledge, and coming together in regular kaitiaki hui (guardian meetings) to support responsible development and environmental care.

We’re also preparing for the future of low-emissions travel. As new technologies emerge, we are ensuring our infrastructure is ready to support airline partners on the path to aviation decarbonisation. Airports have a key role to play in enabling this transition, and we’re committed to being a key part of the journey for New Zealand.

What’s driving growth?

Auckland Airport is in the middle of a significant transformation, with more than 400,000sqm of upgrades underway across the airfield, transport systems, and terminal spaces. This investment is designed to deliver resilience, more capacity, greater efficiency, and a better experience for everyone travelling to and from AKL.

An improved Auckland Airport means more choices for customers. It creates new capacity and opportunities for new routes and airlines, which helps to enable stronger competition on airfares.

By the 2040s, Auckland Airport expects to welcome about 38 million passengers each year, more than twice the number we see today. Annual aircraft movements are forecast to reach 260,000 a year.

To support this future, we’re building the right infrastructure now, including expanded terminals, improved transport routes, and more space for aircraft parking.

As New Zealand’s main international gateway for people and freight, Auckland Airport plays a vital role in the country’s growth. In the decade leading up to 2019, international seat capacity increased by nearly 50%. By the end of the 2024 financial year, long-haul capacity had recovered to 91% of pre-2019 levels.

Every new international service represents economic opportunity. Every daily wide-body flight over a year contributes around $150 million in tourism spending, along with moving more than half a billion dollars in airfreight value.

With a strong domestic and regional flight network, Auckland Airport also plays a vital role supporting trade, tourism, business, and local economies throughout the country. Our role is to keep New Zealand connected and ready for what comes next.

What is AKL’s capital plan?

As Auckland Airport has welcomed more international airlines, our aeronautical infrastructure has evolved to meet their needs and the needs of travellers. The original runway, built in the 1960s, now stretches 3,635 metres. Over time, we’ve added taxiways, aprons, and aircraft stands to keep operations running smoothly on a single-runway system.

We’re investing $5.7 billion in aeronautical development, with a roadmap that includes safety and resilience upgrades to the airfield, stormwater systems, roading, and a new domestic jet terminal. A second runway is also part of our long-term Master Plan, although the project is currently on hold.

This investment is about more than infrastructure. It’s about delivering a high-quality, resilient service for everyone who uses the airport, and strengthening New Zealand’s connections to the world. Whether it’s for personal travel, business, tourism, or air cargo, these improvements support a stronger future for our country at every level.

How is it funded?

Airports around the world provide essential infrastructure and services that enable airlines to operate. This includes everything from runways and taxiways to terminals, baggage systems, operational technology, and hangars. At Auckland Airport, we also manage a 24/7 emergency response team, employ security and airfield safety officers, and have a wide range of staff who help keep the airport running smoothly every day.

As part of their airfare, travellers pay a small, regulated fee for using these airport services, which is charged through the airline they use. For domestic jet flights, the portion paid to Auckland Airport is usually between 4% and 6% of the ticket price. Airlines are also charged aeronautical fees, based on aircraft landings and weight.

In New Zealand, airport charges for the three main airports are regulated by the Commerce Commission. Auckland Airport sets its pricing through a formal consultation process with airline partners, and the Commission reviews our pricing decisions every five years. Our most recent Price Setting Event began in 2021 and draft prices for the 2023 to 2027 period were issued in June 2023.

For example, as part of this process, the domestic jet fee increased from approximately $7 to $10 per passenger in July 2023, and is expected to reach about $15 by 2027. This will bring Auckland into line with other major New Zealand airports, including Wellington and Christchurch.

In addition to airport charges, international travellers also pay government levies as part of their ticket. These include:

• Customs levy ($13.04 per arriving passenger)
• Biosecurity levy ($16.92 per arriving passenger)
• International Conservation and Tourism Levy ($35, increased to $100 on 1 October 2024 for arriving passengers – AU/NZ travellers exempt).
• The combined government levies can now total up to $129.96 for an arriving international traveller.
  
  

Alongside this, Civil Aviation Authority has announced increases to its levies, fees and charges, which will see domestic security levies rise from $6.57 to $10.91 per passenger, and international security levies increase from $13.12 to $22.30 per passenger from 1 July 2025.