Robin is the Head of Operations - Aeronautical at Auckland Airport.
After the war, Whenuapai airport was made available for civilian services; TEAL continued to operate at Mechanics Bay. There was pressure from the business community to build an airport that could handle aircraft other than flying boats and military aircraft. A range of locations was considered but Mangere won out on weather. This airport opened in January 1966.
Currently 75% of all international arrivals to New Zealand are via Auckland Airport. There are over 19 million passenger movements each year - domestic and international, inbound and outbound which equates to four times New Zealand's population.
The airport supports 30 international airlines and 4 international freight airlines. There has been significant growth in the past four years with the number of airlines up 50% since 2014; Flights from the Airport are to 46 international destinations and 19 domestic destinations. There are 173,000 flights each year, 150+ international flights each day and 310+ domestic flights each day. Auckland Airport is also New Zealand's second largest port for combined imports and exports.
Auckland Airport are also significant property owners with 1,500 hectares of land, 800+ businesses, 100+ shops, cafes, restaurants, 2 hotels and in excess of 20,000 people working here.
Passenger numbers are growing strongly, 12 million in 2007, 19 million in 2017 and projected to be 40 million in 2044. Aircraft movements are growing strongly too, with 156,000 in 2007, 168,000 in 2017 and a projection of 260,000 in 2044. The grown in aircraft movement is at a slower rate than passengers because aircraft are getting larger.Currently Auckland Airport is investing more than $1 million every working day on their core airport infrastructure. Examples of completed work include:
- New border processing and security screening area
- New stores for duty free operators and retail hub;
- New Strata Lounge (Auckland Airport's lounge); general public can pay for entry.
- Pier B extension: two more contact gates that can each accommodate an A380 aircraft or two smaller aircraft.
To come:
- Combined domestic and international terminal
- Second runway
- environment Court granted consent in 2002
There are currently two hotels at the airport: Novotel (owner in partnership with Tainui Holding) and Ibis (100% owned by The Airport).
A third hotel will open in late 2019 with:
- Five-star, adjacent to ITB and Novotel
- 50/50 partnership with Tainui Holdings
- This hotel will trade as the Pullman Auckland Airport and carry the name 'Te Arikinui' after the late Maori Queen.
Transport to and from the Airport is a challenge. Around 15% of traffic through the airport is not coming here - it's people by-passing other bottlenecks around the City. The Airport only control the roads with the Airport precinct. They are working closely with the New Zealand Transport Agency and Auckland Transport to improve travel times to and from the airport - eg. public transport, better road access etc; new access route into Park and Ride to avoid main intersections. The Wait Zone (30 minutes free waiting, reduces clogging on forecourts).
Environmental effort includes:
- Actively reducing carbon emissions. For example, reducing energy used by adjusting airconditioning and lighting based on usage; plug-in and hybrid vehicles;
- Reducing waste, around 50% of non-quarantined aircraft cabin waste is being diverted away from landfill - plastic bottles, etc.
- Active environment management programme which includes, managing biodiversity (flora and fauna); managing spills' annual coastal clean-up with a local School.
Community giving programme includes:
- around $410,000 each year, excluding Twelve Days of Christmas;
- $330,000 through Auckland Airport Community Trust to South Auckland groups.
- Twelve Days of Christmas includes donations from generous travellers into the terminal charity globes. There are 12 grants of $10,000, increasing each year. The Charities are profiled in The New Zealand Herald.
