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Travellers are being asked to plan ahead for car parking changes at Auckland Airport’s domestic terminal, as the airport makes more space for regional flights.
From August 1, there will be changes to open-air and undercover car parking directly outside the domestic terminal (Car Park M), as construction gets underway for an expansion to the regional airfield, a project critical to enabling future airline capacity growth to the regions.
Chief customer officer Scott Tasker says Auckland Airport wanted to give domestic travellers plenty of notice about upcoming changes to car parks they are familiar with and use frequently.
“We want travellers to be informed and prepared when they’re arriving at Auckland Airport, which is why we’re providing early updates about the car parking changes that are coming at the domestic terminal.
“At Auckland Airport, we are underway with a transformative infrastructure programme to support our country’s economic growth ambitions, and these changes are essential to allow regional travel to grow in the future.
“We know disruption can be frustrating and we really appreciate everyone’s understanding while we get these airfield works completed.”
The changes to Car Park M, which include the partial deconstruction of the car parking building inside the car park, are making way for four new regional aircraft parking positions and 8,500m2 of additional airfield space.
Auckland Airport is New Zealand’s largest regional hub, with about 40 per cent of all regional flights in New Zealand starting or finishing at the domestic terminal.
“So, whether it’s connecting whānau, enabling regional tourism, or supporting the economy, strong air links between Auckland and the regions are essential for the people, businesses and communities who depend on these connections,” says Scott.
“This project future-proofs our regional airport infrastructure and opens the door to thousands of additional regional seats in 2028.”
He says travellers were encouraged to visit Auckland Airport’s website to find out about which car park they are best to use from August 1, depending on the duration of their visit to the airport.
He says only people travelling for less than 24 hours should use Car Park M, while the best value for customers wanting to stay longer than 24 hours will be offered in car parks K, L and O, with pre-booking available.
“Multi-day travellers are encouraged to book ahead for the best value with discounts of up to 35 per cent available depending on when they book,” Scott says.
“We recognise that some people might be planning to use Car Park M for a single-day trip but due to weather or other disruptions, end up staying longer than intended. If this is the case, we encourage customers to please get in touch with our online customer service team for help.”
Staying close with accessible parks
Scott says making trips easy for people with accessibility needs continues to be a priority for Auckland Airport, with the airport setting aside priority car parks in the closest possible position to the domestic terminal.
- The closest accessible car parks are available in Car Park R
- Accessible car parks are also available in Car Park O and in the front portion of Car Park K
- Accessible Parks are available in Car Park M for stays of under 24 hours
- Accessibility zones will continue to be available in the public drop off and pick up lanes, which are unchanged.
“We recognise that for some people they may not be accessibility card holders but need some assistance to get to and from the terminal. This is why we are prioritising Car Park M for those meeters and farewellers but if you’re unsure what is the best option for you, I would recommend you get in touch with our online customer service team. You can call, email or even send them a direct message via social media. They will be only too happy to provide some advice,” he says.
