It wasn’t exactly a final boarding call but members of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board were invited to explore Auckland Airport’s new Transport Hub before it opened to the public.
After nearly 50-years the international terminal transport system is changing, after the opening of the Transport Hub ground floor in April.
For an hour, the board were shown the first stage of the new Transport Hub including the undercover drop off and pick up zone, walked the new covered walkways, explored the Park & Ride bus connection, interterminal bus connections and commercial drop-off.
Local board chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich reflects on the way the airport used to be and the transformations it has undergone over time.
“The transformation from the old days is incredible, everything looks so different now. The scale of it all is mind-blowing, and although there's more work ahead, it's a step in the right direction and we were fortunate to be given this opportunity before the Transport Hub was open to the public," he says.
Passengers en-route to the international terminal will be the first to experience the newly built facility, which boasts over 320 meters of fresh undercover kerbside drop-off and pick-up space - a substantial 200 per cent increase from the current area available in front of the terminal. The drop-off and pick-up lanes will be able to handle 650 vehicles an hour.
Bakulich adds, “The increased area space for drop off and pick up is a great addition, on top of being a covered area makes for a good experience.”
The ground level of the Transport Hub, which replaced the outdated 1977 international terminal car park, spans over 14,000m2.
It features designated lanes for public and commercial traffic, enhancing the efficiency and modern feel of the arrival and departure process for passengers utilizing public transport, scheduled buses, drop-offs by friends and family, as well as drop-offs by taxis, rideshares, and shuttles.
What’s new for customers:
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Undercover public drop-off / pick-up, plus public transport, Park & Ride bus connection, interterminal bus connections and commercial drop-off
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680m of new covered walkways, landscaping and open spaces create contemporary plaza areas
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Accessible zones within the commercial and public drop-off / pick-up
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Existing international terminal drop-off / pick-up closes.
When you are driving towards the terminal, simply follow the signs to the drop-off and pick-up zone.
Construction continues with parking levels above opening late-2024. For more information visit the Auckland Airport website here.
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