A new welcome: inside Auckland Airport’s upgrade of domestic jet travel

• Doing the basics well the priority - efficientqueues, a comfortable place to sit, easy to get around

• Functional, cost-efficientdesign, with constructionmaterials selected for robustness and durability

• Honouring the Manukau Harbour and landscape of TāmakiMakaurau Auckland

• One in every two seats in pre-departure dwell seating to havedevice charging

• Focus onbathroom facilities for families, including Changing Places™ bathroom for travellers with profound disabilities, and a low sensory space for travellers seeking a quiet setting

• Sustainability a core part of the project, targeting reduction in embodied carbon and a 30% reduction in operational emissions, against a more traditional design and build.

Auckland Airport today revealed a first detailed look at the planned interior for the city's future new domestic jet terminal and what it will deliver for coming generations of passengers.

Expected to open at the end of this decade andtaking its design cues from the Manukau Harbour and surrounding landscape, the new terminal has 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 Auckland Airport's Chief Customer Officer, Scott Tasker.

"Regardless of whether you'rea frequent or occasional flyer, there's a certain level of anxiety that comes with needing to be at the right place at the right timeto catch a flight.

"It'ssomething we challenged ourselves to tacklein every aspect of the new domestic terminal design, from the simplicity of how travellers find their way around, to the colours and lighting we'vechosen for key interior spaces to make it lessstressful.

"It's about bringing together fit for purpose functionality with an arrival and departure experience that uniquely reflects TāmakiMakaurau Auckland."

For the past three years, Auckland Airporthas been working through the design for the new domestic terminal, as enabling works preparing the construction site for a successful build progress towards completion.

With detailed design nearcompletion,the new terminal will deliver a significant uplift in customer processing, with a 44% increase in processing capacity.

"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," said Mr Tasker.

Designed with asimple and robust exterior structure made of tray-profile steel, Auckland Airport has concentrated its effortson the interiorof the new terminal, deliveringa functional design with sustainability elements, such as all electric heating and cooling and low carbon materials.

With a single aircraftpier, the interior design employs a river-like circulation path for travellers, while off to the side soft-seatingareas, complete with charging points and a clear view to flight information boards, create space to relax while people wait for their flight. The inspiration for the design has been drawn from the tidal harbour, volcanic stone fields and maungasurrounding the airport, with timber accents and a cost-effective mix of durable carpeted and rubber flooring creating a relaxed feel for travellers.

Choosing wood for the sub-floorinstead of concrete, reflects a preference for low-carbon materialsalong with supporting sustainable aviation. The airfield around the terminal will be upgraded withelectricground power units for aircraftto plug in at gate to reduce fuelburnanda new fuel system to support sustainable aviation fuel.

A highlight for travellers will be a short five-minute indoor walk between domestic jet and international travel, meaning an end to walking the current infamous outdoor"green line" walk between terminals or taking the inter-terminal transfer bus service.

Behind the scenes,checked luggage will be tracked in real time in a modern individual carrier system (ICS) for baggage handling. For travellersstarting their journey in Auckland, check-in kiosks, automatic bag drops,and all-day check-in means the end to waiting in line at check-in counters.

"All our check-ins for both domestic jet and international passengers will be in the same place, making it much easier for travellers."

When the domesticjetterminal opens an estimated 20,000 travellers will pass through it every day, so it needs to cater to variety of people with different needsin a convenient and dignified way.

"Alongside facilities you'dexpect at anyairport therewill bededicated faith spaces, a low-sensory room, baby change facilities in both the male and female bathrooms,as well as a family-specific facilities,and gender-neutral bathrooms.

"We are proud to beintroducing whatwe believe will be the first Changing Places™bathroom for travellers with profound disabilitiesavailable at a New Zealand airport. It'selementslike these that make travel more accessible to everyone."

Driving resiliency and efficiency

While elements of the new terminal's design are focusedon putting customers at ease, creating a terminal that is resilient and operatesefficientlyis key.

"We'realready considering today what we might need in two decades time through our masterplan,including how our terminal infrastructure will develop over time. Amajor feature of the terminal design is that it providesoptions to expand the main buildingandadd in additional aircraftpierswhen needed."

When complete the new domestic terminal will have in total 12 jet aircraftgatescapable of handling CodeC aircraft,such as an Airbus A321, with six gatesable to take widebody Code E jet aircraft (with 300+ seats)by combining two narrowbody Code C jet aircraftstands.

"It'snot too dissimilar to what we have at the international terminal with Pier B gatesable to handle an A380 ortwo narrowbody Code C aircraft. That flexibility creates capacity to manage demandsurges, for example adding flights for an All Blacksgame in Dunedin, andadds a 26% uplift in seat capacity overall.

"Having capacityis what makes a real difference to the traveller experience. Whether that'senough space for pre-flight security checks, afast,modern baggage system, technology assisting aircraftat the gates for quickerturnaround times, adequate airfield space for aircraftmanoeuvring and parking, or crucially, enough aircraftgates to manage the volume of flights departingat the busiest periods of the day. That'swhat keeps the system runningsmoothlyandcreates capacity for new flights to be operatedby airlines which then puts downward pressure on fares," said Mr Tasker.

The new domestic jet terminal is expected to cost $2.2 billionoverall, with a further $1.7 billion to cover the cost of integrating domestic and international travel- a spend that is in line with other comparable airport upgradesaround the world.

"We'vebeen careful tobenchmark 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. This meanswe have some goodexamples to reference, including right across the Tasman whereBrisbane Airportis underwaywithaA$5 billion programme that includes a new third terminal and existing terminal refurbishment.

"Internationally, airport standards are lifting considerably offthe back of this global investment and so are traveller expectations. That will mean an increase in the chargesairlines pay to use our domestic terminal facilities. In Auckland,these charges havelong been at the bottom of the table compared to other major airports in New Zealand given the age of the current domestic terminal,and they will rise in line with the delivery of these much-needed improvementsand theresultinglift in customer experiencebut at a much lower level than has been speculated."

Currently, Auckland Airport's airline domestic jet charges are $10.25 per passenger,moving to $15.45 by 2027 - a similar cost to what other major New Zealand airports charge today.

"We will continue to be transparent with customers andshare their interest in makingtravel affordable for all Kiwis and supporting demandto the regions."

With the Transport Hubnearing completionandthe closure of the dropoff and pick up area directly in front of the international terminal,construction work on the new domestic terminal will startlater this year.

Auckland Airport continues to consult with airlines on the future of regional travel asinvesting in terminal and airfield infrastructure to create appropriate turboprop capacityand customer experience forthose travelling to regional New Zealand is key to the airport's masterplan.

FASTFACTS

• $2.2 billion for new domestic terminaloverall. Additionalintegration costs are $1.7 billion

• New terminal to service jet aircraft- the larger aircraftthat flybetween Auckland and other main centres.

• 12 jet aircraftgatescreate 26% more seat capacity, with a further 10% seat capacity available with dedicated domestic bus lounges

• Transfer between domesticjetand international flights within the terminal

• Check-in kiosks and automatic bag drops, capable of future upgrades to biometric technology, to speed up check-in process

• In line with IATA best practice:queue wait times of 4 minutesor lessfor self-check-inand to drop a bag, less than 7.5minutes for security, adequate seating at boarding gates, timelybaggage arrival with<15 minutes from first bag to last bag on belt

• Devicecharging points in 50% of seats in pre-departure dwell

• Two baggage reclaims with 180mof belt space- a 70% increase on the current domestic terminal

• Dedicated faith spaces plus a low sensory room provided fortravellers

• Changing Places™bathroom equipped with special features to meet the needs of travellers with profound disabilities who cannot use standard accessible toilets, alongside generous bathrooms for families, as well as gender neutraland accessible bathrooms.

• Integrated terminal to be completed in 2028/2029.

PRICING

• Airports operate under a regulated, user-pays system in which airlines pay to use the core infrastructure - runway, taxiways, and terminalareas they need to operatetheir business

• Airport charges, which are set every five years afterconsultation with airlines and are reviewedby the Commerce Commission,make up a very smallpercentage(less than 5%)of an airfare

• Auckland Airport's domestic charges have been consistently 40-50% lower than other comparable airports, but will rise as airlines begin using new infrastructure

• Auckland Airport's airline domestic jet charges are $10.25per passenger, moving to $15.45 by 2027 - a similar cost to what other major New Zealand airports charge today

• Airline charges for Price Setting Event 4 (PSE4) are currently being reviewed by the Commerce Commissionin a transparent process aimed at ensuring the charges are reasonable and allow the recovery of costs of appropriate airportinfrastructure investment to improve the customer experience.