Air travel has come a long way since it became accessible to the most. So have the expectations that we all have when travelling through any major airport. We have all become very demanding, particularly in the post covid era and airports around the globe are bringing in upgrades to keep up with expectations. Among these airports is Auckland International Airport (AKL). New Zealand's largest and busiest airport has just announced a major plan to enhance its domestic travel section. Here's how, when and how much it'll cost.
Auckland Airport Upgrading Domestic Travel Experience
The whole idea for Auckland International airport is to upgrade the level of comfort offered to passengers travelling domestically. The airport's infrastructure in many cases dates back quite some time in the domestic section of the airport and needs some sprucing up to get back at par with other major international airports.
I have been at Auckland International Airport countless times however always in the international part of the airport. Always flew in and out from and to Australia. I used to love flying to New Zealand, but I digress.
To make Auckland Airport's domestic area up to par with other airports across the globe, the plan is to:
- Have a domestic terminal with 12 gates capable of accommodating narrow body aircraft and 6 wide bodies.
- The capacity of the domestic terminal will be jacked up by 44%
- Installing state-of-the-art technology to ensure faster turnaround times for planes
- A new luggage handling system for more efficient operations
The plan doesn't just end here. Auckland airport is also planning ahead. The new domestic terminal will be constructed with in mind the possibility of further expansion if traffic demands so. Which is quite a smart move seen how air travel has been on a continuous rise.
Cost and Funding For The Project
The cost of the project, which includes all sorts of eco friendly design features, will be of 2 billion dollars. Another 1.7 billion dollars will have to be added on top of that to connect and integrate the new Domestic terminal with the International terminal of the airport. This will allow for seamless and convenient transfers from national to international services. Quite an important feature for the busiest airport in New Zealand that for many tourists represents the gateway to the island country.
