Auckland Airport plans to start contruction of a new domestic terminal, but airlines warn of higher airfares

Auckland Airport says will begin construction of a new domestic jet terminal that will be integrated with the current international terminal. Chairperson Patrick Strange said it would be the biggest redevelopment since the airport opened in 1966 and cost about $3.9b over the next five to six years when the new terminal was expected to open. It was a major investment for airport, he said. “The domestic terminal is almost 60 years old and needs replacing. It’s nearing capacity and it’s no longer fit for purpose and hasn’t been for some time. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, we would already be well underway with its replacement,” he said. But Airlines said they are surprised and disappointed by airport’s announcement that it will go ahead with the project. Cath O’Brien, executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives said the development would “ultimately make it too expensive for some people to fly”. “This $3.9b spend gets pushed on to airlines in fees that end up in ticket prices,” O’Brien said. “Airlines are frustrated by the airport’s action.” Strange said the airport had been in discussions airline since May 2011 to build an integrated terminal. Over that time 21 concept designs have been developed. The new terminal meant the gateway airport was resilient and sustainable, supporting airline ambitions for a low-carbon future and strengthening infrastructure to cope with increasingly severe weather events due to climate change, he said. CE Carrie Hurihanganui said the airport would begin to recover the cost of building the infrastructure one it was commissioned and airlines and travellers were using the new facilities, she said.<br/>