Auckland airport to double retail arrivals space

Tina Milton

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A NZ$100m investment project at Auckland airport is to double the size of arrivals duty-free space

Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) plans to invest NZ$100m in the expansion of its international terminal, which will almost double arrivals retail space. Construction on the initiative will begin next month and is expected to be completed by December 2007.

Auckland airport chief executive Don Huse commented: "The international terminal will be expanded to the west, with an increase in the arrivals border processing capacity and incorporating a new arrivals duty-free area. The position of the extension was determined as part of an extensive international terminal planning study that has taken place over the last two years. It takes into account the international terminal's future direction, including the development of a second pier, which will be further to the west."

The project will increase a number of immigration 'primary line' counters from 32 to 44. The company said the arrivals process had been subject to congestion at peak periods in the past few years but the new development should streamline the immigration processes.

The news comes as the company announced its interim results for the six months ended December 31 2005. Retail revenues fell by 2.8% to NZ$43m due to construction activity associated with the segregation of the international terminal pier during the first six months of the financial year. In addition the company closed all of its own direct retail stores in August and replacement stores did not open until December. Non-aeronautical revenue accounts for 53% of AIAL's total income.