First virtual look at Auckland Airport's new domestic jet terminal

Auckland Airport has offered a virtual first look at its new domestic jet terminal – which it says will deliver for generations of future passengers.

The $2.2 billion terminal is one part of Auckland Airport's proposed major rebuild and is expected to open at the end of the decade.

It takes design cues from the Manukau Harbour and surrounding landscape, which the airport calls “a simple, cost-efficient design that focuses on doing the basics really well”.

“Easy to get around, efficient processing, somewhere to charge your phone and a comfortable place to sit while you wait for your flight – that’s what we’re going deliver for our customers,” said chief customer officer Scott Tasker.

The design has also been influenced by the stresses of travelling, according to Tasker, offering colours, lighting, and simplicity to help travellers know where to go.

“It will be an end to the blind corners, the scramble for available seating and the standing in the corridors that mark the current domestic terminal experience to something we’re proud to have visitors to our city and country to experience.”

The airport claims the new terminal will have a significant uplift in customer processing, with a 44% increase in capability.

For the past three years, Auckland Airport has been working through the design for the terminal.

While the works for the construction site progresses towards completion, the digital first look gives Kiwis a chance to see what the future may hold for those travelling domestically via Auckland.

When it opens, an estimated 20,000 travellers will pass through every day.

Auckland Airport said this means it needs to cater to a variety of people with different needs in a dignified way.

It's designed to have 12 gates for planes such as the Airbus A321, and by combining two stands, will be able to take widebody planes with over 300 seats.

The terminal is set to cost $2.2 billion overall, with a further $1.7 billion cost to integrate domestic and international travel with projects such as airfield upgrades.

Regional planes will stay where they are for now.

"We have to tackle one thing at a time," Tasker said.

While Auckland Airport said the spending is “in line with other comparable airport upgrades around the world”, Air New Zealand has previously criticised the the airport's spending on new projects.

Currently, the airport charges $10.25 per domestic jet passenger. This will move to $15.45 by 2027, which the airport said is similar to other major airports in Aotearoa.

“We’ve been careful to benchmark the terminal design against other airports. Like us, airports around the world are underway upgrading infrastructure that was built to manage aircraft flying in the 1960s and 70s," Tasker said.

“This means we have some good examples to reference, including right across the Tasman where Brisbane Airport is underway with a A$5 billion ($5.5 billion NZD) programme that includes a new third terminal and existing terminal refurbishment.”

Despite the comparisons, Air New Zealand has said previously the overall upgrade will lead to “unaffordable” airfares for some Kiwis.

In February, the airline lodged a request for an inquiry with Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly into “the regulation that is failing to constrain overspending by Auckland Airport".

At the time, Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran the $7-8 billion in upgrades were the most any privately owned airport had spent in such a short time.

“Air New Zealand agrees the airport needs redevelopment, but not at a cost that means some Kiwis can’t afford to fly. This issue affects all passengers flying through Auckland Airport – especially those from the regions."

Today, Tasker said speculation charges would increase to $46 per domestic passenger by 2032 was wrong.

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand chief corporate affairs officer Mat Bolland said the airline agrees investment in Auckland Airport is overdue, but it has to be affordable.

"At a time when customers are already finding airfares expensive, we need Auckland Airport to help us make sure people in regional New Zealand can afford to fly by scaling back this enormous spend."

Board of Airline Representatives executive director Cath O'Brien told 1News the upgrade is necessary, but it "doesn't need to come at a cost".

She said ticket prices could rise as a result of the increased passenger fees to airlines, which could create a reduced demand for flying and make prices go up again.

"It's kind of not unreasonable to think that's right, because the [capital expenditure] proposed in this period is less than the [capital expenditure] period out to 2032, so this period we're looking at $2.4 billion dollars and the next period we're looking at $3.5 billion dollars.

"So it's more in the next period, so it's not unreasonable it will rise at least as much again in the next period ... it's difficult to know [how much], but it will certainly be higher than it is today."

O'Brien added the domestic terminal will also have some challenges in the near future prior to the new terminal being installed.

"Auckland Airport and airlines alike are both concerned about the challenges we face today and the next few years of operating at the airport.

"Internationally, we will see four fewer international gates than we have today by 2026, domestically we will see the airport reach capacity by 2026, 2027 and 2028 for different parts of the process.

"It's going to be a really difficult place to travel through and a really difficult place to do business. So I think we've got problems to deal with in the near term, rather than putting up pictures of what things will look like in 2030."