First look at Auckland Airport’s new pick-up/drop-off zone
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
First stage of the transport hub at Auckland Airport opens 2am, Wednesday April 3
It features an all new undercover drop-off / pick-up area for international terminal.
The road to the existing international terminal drop-off / pick-up closes next week.
Picking up and dropping off passengers at Auckland Airport’s international terminal will look a bit different next week.
The airport’s transport system is undergoing its biggest change in the terminal’s nearly 50-year history with the first stage of the $300 million transport hub opening at 2am on Wednesday April 3.
Travellers will pull up to more than 300 metres of undercover kerbside drop off and pick up – a 200% boost in space on what is currently outside the terminal.
Replacing the international terminal ground-level car park, built in 1977, the ground floor of the transport hub covers over 14,000sqm with separate lanes for public transport and those being dropped off or picked up by friends and family, or by taxis, rideshares and shuttles.
Auckland Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the new system will create an easier, efficient and more welcoming arrival and departure point for international travellers and in the future, the planned integrated domestic terminal.
“The drop-off and pick-up lanes, designed to handle the 650 vehicles an hour expected at peak, are an important step towards a new integrated domestic terminal. This is creating the capacity to manage future vehicle volumes with allowance for future mass rapid transit right alongside,” she said.
Around the hub are pedestrian walkways and native planting, including mature pōhutukawa relocated from the surrounding construction sites.
“We’re thrilled to be opening the first stage less than two years after starting work on the site,” Hurihanganui said.
“This was the first of our major infrastructure projects to get underway once the borders reopened. Post-pandemic there was a window of opportunity while international travel was rebuilding to complete a project of this scale while minimising disruption.
“We do recognise that car parking was less convenient for a period, so we thank people for their patience and understanding during the transport hub construction. We reckon the ease and convenience the transport hub delivers will be absolutely worth it.”
Construction continues on four levels of short-term car parking above the public drop-off / pick-up zone, set to open in late 2024.
The inner terminal road closes for business
As Auckland Airport gets started on the new domestic terminal, the inner terminal road in front of the international terminal building will close for upgrades that will integrate the two terminals.
“We will also eventually reinstate the two-lane inner terminal road prioritising public transport at the front door of the terminal. This will further increase public drop-off / pick-up capacity in the transport hub,” Hurihanganui said.
“A feature of the design allows for wide covered footpaths to create room for families and travellers with luggage, pedestrian crossings, plenty of seats and lighting, as well as calling time on the large sails that have adorned the terminal since the early 90s as we create a more modern look to our front door.”
Below ground, the airport will make sure vital utilities like water, stormwater, sewage, power, telecommunications are fit-for-purpose for the next 50 years.
Work on the road, utilities and area directly in front of the terminal will take place over the next two years. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout through controlled crossings at departures and arrivals.
The combined domestic and international terminal is scheduled to open in 2028/2029.
Air New Zealand claims the redevelopment of Auckland International Airport will make flying unaffordable for many.
It has lodged an official request with Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly for an urgent inquiry into the regulations of the airport, saying they fail to constrain the airport’s overspending.