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As the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest, preparations are in full swing to welcome summer holiday travellers at Auckland Airport.
Auckland Airport’s chief customer cfficer Scott Tasker says the airport will be a buzz of activity as travel returns to 93 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with airport teams prepared for the festive travel surge.
“At this time of year, we love reconnecting Kiwis with friends and families or their favourite summer getaway destination. And with international connections restored, we’re really looking forward to sharing a Kiwi summer with international guests to Aotearoa New Zealand.
“The busy period is also a great opportunity for some classic ‘Airport Dad’ spotting, a tongue and cheek term coined on social media for the leader of the travel party. The Airport Dad traits and behaviours are very apparent at Auckland Airport – checking flight boards, protecting the passports and generally taking the lead of your travel group or family. The team’s excited to put a video out about it this time of year,” says Scott.
Auckland Airport’s frontline operational team has been boosted with a summer workforce of 72 new employees and the return of the much-loved Auckland Airport ambassadors.
“We’ll have a significant visible presence of Auckland Airport team members and volunteers walking the floor and assisting customers, making sure every journey is a great one. As we go through a period of major upgrade of our terminal infrastructure, including a new domestic terminal integrated into the international terminal, their role will be even more important in making sure people arrive and depart smoothly.
Scott says the Auckland Airport community was ready for the summer peak, with the airport working closely with airlines, ground handlers and border agency teams to ensure the system is working smoothly.
“Operating an airport is definitely a team sport. Auckland Airport takes care of the airfield and terminals, with the airlines and their baggage handling teams and government border agencies managing processes within the terminals. We each have a different role to play, but together we are focused on making sure travellers arrive and depart as efficiently and easily as possible.
“The median time travellers can expect to clear Customs and immigration, baggage reclaim, and biosecurity screening is 27 minutes – about 24 per cent faster than earlier in the year.”
“The most noticeable change for people who haven’t travelled in a while is the new electronic NZ Travel Declaration, which replaces the paper forms filled out on arriving aircraft. My advice is to download the app and fill it in before you fly into New Zealand.
“And during busy periods across the day we are also prioritising travellers who are arriving into New Zealand with nothing to declare through an express lane for faster biosecurity processing.
“Airports are complex systems and things aren’t 100 per cent perfect 100 per cent of the time, but we know the vast majority of travellers are going to have a smooth experience travelling through the airport over the holidays.”
Christmas cheer
There will be some added entertainment at the airport for families who are keen to get into the Christmas spirit. A sprinkle of Christmas magic will be in the air with Santa just a phone call away in a Spark phone booth at international departures until December 22, between 11.30am and 6.30pm, alongside a photo station to capture your Christmas travel memories with a free photo, plus keep an eye out for the Christmas Crew who will be roaming with insta cameras and handing out Whittaker’s chocolates.
“We wanted to bring some Christmas cheer to Auckland Airport and travel can be a little stressful sometimes so hopefully our Christmas carollers and activities help bring some fun and enjoyment to the process. It’s one way we can give back to travellers,” says Scott.
“We do ask for travellers to be patient and to please be respectful to our airport workers.
“We’re all working hard to get people where they need to be and above all, we hope everyone has a wonderful summer break ahead.”
