$300m airport upgrade

AUCKLAND: Building a transport hub and setting aside land for light rail near its international terminal is costing Auckland Airport $300 million.

The company is also installing a $100 million smart baggage hall and system designed to transform luggage handling as part of a planned combined domestic and international terminal.

Built to double height, the ground floor of the fourstorey building will accommodate buses as well as cars, and the upper floors will feature smart car parking, electric vehicle charging stations and office spaces.

The first part of the project, a dropoff and pickup area, will be finished late next year.

Another part of the transport hub area could accommodate rapid transit such as light rail if that is the preferred Government and Auckland Council option. The airport has taken steps to set aside land for an integrated mass transit station, while the inner forecourt road will remain dedicated to buses and commercial transport.

Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the new transport hub would be funded by debt and was being started now as passenger numbers recovered. —