This Content Is Only For Subscribers
This weekend will be among the busiest of the school holidays at Auckland Airport with close to 160,000 travellers expected to arrive and depart across the airport from Friday through to Sunday.
Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker says 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.
“From now, 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 per cent 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,” says Scott.
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 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.”
Construction on the Transport Hub continues on the levels above with parking floors and an office building for airport operational teams opening later this year.
