Airport News
Work has begun to extend Auckland Airport’s international baggage hall in an effort to create a combined domestic and international terminal.
The adaptation is one of several construction projects that mark the first phase of the terminals transformation.
At a cost of NZ$8.4m (US$7.5m), the new 90m extension will increase the baggage hall floor area by approximately 2,500m2. It is hoped the dual terminal will be completed by November 30, 2014.
Adrian Littlewood, Auckland Airport’s chief executive, said, “We are committed to delivering on our 30-year vision for the ‘airport of the future’ and the expansion of our international baggage hall is the first step of many towards a new combined domestic and international terminal.”
An additional sixth baggage belt will be added as part of the development with the capacity to handle luggage from an A380 flight. A seventh will be added shortly after to help deal with an increase in passenger numbers.
Future plans for the development of the airport include building a second runway by 2025 with a possible 890m extension in 30 to 50 years.
Auckland Airport estimates that the number of passengers using its services each year will almost treble from 14.4 million in 2013 to 40 million by 2044.
