Airport unveils upgrade progress
New shops and gate lounges will be unveiled in coming weeks as the second stage of Auckland International Airport’s departures expansion and upgrade goes live.
The country’s biggest airport is in the middle of a fiveyear, $1.8 billion redevelopment that has turned it into the biggest construction site in the country.
Key projects include expanding and upgrading the international departure experience, providing more gates for international aircraft, and investing in public transport, road and walking projects.
A Whittaker’s chocolate concept store in on the cards and will be joined by merino, greenstone and honey shops as part of a drive to showcase the best of New Zealand.
From the middle of 2018 global luxury brands includ- ing Coach, Hugo Boss, Furla, Fossil, Rolex and Omega will also be available.
Travellers will also have 20 new food and drink outlets to try out from March.
‘‘The upgrade of our international departure area is progressing well, with 77 per cent of construction now complete,’’ airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said. ‘‘The extension of the international terminal’s Pier B is also progressing well, with 82 per cent of construction complete.’’
Under the new Government, plans are afoot for improved mass transit links.
Auckland Airport opened in 1966 and in its first year of operation processed 700,000 passengers.
Now, more than 19 million passengers pass through the gates annually. The airport forecasts that number will increase to 40 million international and domestic travellers by 2040.