Auckland Airport has reported that it expects the coming two-week period to be particularly busy as the school holidays begin.
With close to 160,000 travellers expected to arrive and depart across the airport from Friday through to Sunday, Auckland Airport has viewed this as an opportunity to showcase its new redevelopments.
Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer, Scott Tasker, said while the number of flights and seat capacity was lower than the same time pre-pandemic, Auckland Airport will still be busy as the first school holidays of the year kick off.
“We’re expecting the holiday buzz to build, with this Friday, Saturday and Sunday to be among our busiest of the two-week holiday period. Although available flights are still nearly 15 percent down on pre-pandemic figures, our projections are those flights will be full. Between the domestic and international terminal, the equivalent of the population of Tauranga will arrive and depart over these three days,” said Tasker.
For many international travellers, it will be their first opportunity to experience the new undercover public drop-off and pick-up area within the new Transport Hub. Built over the site of what was the main international terminal car park, the Transport Hub has separate public, valet, and commercial traffic lanes, plus bus stops for public transport and scheduled buses. The former drop-off and pick-up area in front of the terminal is now closed to allow for upgrades to support a new domestic terminal integrated into the international terminal.
“While the Transport Hub provides a much-improved traveller experience to the old drop-off and pick-up area, it is a big change so something to be aware of if you’re driving in to farewell or collect friends and whānau on international flights these holidays,” said Tasker.
Construction on the Transport Hub has continued on the levels above, with parking floors and an office building for airport operational teams opening later in 2024.
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