Busiest flying days revealed

Airport delivers tips for a smooth journey over the festive season

The Saturday before Santa arrives and the Sunday before the new year of work begins are expected to be the busiest days for travellers at Auckland International Airport this festive season.

Airport bosses have revealed the 10 days during the Christmas-New Year holiday period they believe the international terminal will be at its most congested.

Saturday, December 22 and Sunday, January 6 top the list, with more than 43,000 travellers expected through the international terminal on each of the two peak travel days.

On eight other days — December 20, 21, 23 and 26, and January 3, 4, 5, and 13 — more than 40,000 international travellers are expected each day.

On a regular day, 34,000 to 35,000 people pass through the international terminal. A sharp rise in passenger numbers three years ago prompted a 30-year airport development plan to cater for soaring growth.

Auckland Airport’s general manager of operations, Anna Cassels-Brown, said the main advice to travellers was to factor extra time into their journey — another half an hour was a good target — to make for a happier start to the happiest time of the year.

“We want people to arrive here in a good state, and to enjoy the experience, not find the first hour of their holiday frustrating because they’re stuck in traffic.”

In addition to flyers, thousands more will arrive at our national gateway to wave goodbye or say hello.

About 90,000 vehicles come into the airport precinct every day, 15 per cent more than the peak in 2016 that led to gridlock on airport roads.

Changes to roading, including a truck bypass, have eased pressure.

After a nice early arrival to the airport, Cassels-Brown also encouraged travellers to get through the various checkpoints quickly.

Kiosk check-ins were generally quicker than those at the counter, and going through customs and security was best not left until the last minute.

“Once you get through immigration there’s oodles of room because of all the new developments.

“We’ve done 36,000sq m of refurbished space airside.

“[Once there] you’re at leisure — you can shop, dine, go to a lounge, there are new artworks, fabulous views of the Manukau Harbour and we’ve also got an incredible lighting exhibit being installed over the weekend.

“Do the things you have to do, checking in, customs, security, and then your holiday begins.”

A quick check-in and, where necessary, an expeditious journey through security was good advice at the domestic terminal too, although its travel peak was usually around March after kids had returned to school and business travel picked up again.

The airport’s app had been improved to help travellers and those meeting them.

Features included travel times to the airport, flight trackers and customs queue times, Cassels-Brown said.

“My 77-year-old mum uses it.” Navigation around the airport had also been improved — the pick-up and drop-off area at the domestic terminal had been colour-coded, and the wait-zone carpark free parking limit increased from 30 to 45 minutes for the festive season.

Cassels-Brown also encouraged more people to use public transport, including those who worked at the airport. She said employees at the various businesses across the airport were being encouraged to take part in a three-week public transport challenge.