Auckland Airport second runway pushed out to 2038 (2025)

Auckland Airport's long-anticipated second runway won't arrive until at least the late 2030s, and a new regional terminal is on the cards for the same decade.

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The airport's draft master plan said the timeline for a second runway has been pushed out by 10 years from the previous 2028, although the airport had previously indicated the delay.

It was the first revision to the airport's master plan in 11 years, as it outlined its growth intentions through to 2047.

The airport said the master plan was not a detailed construction or capital plan, but it would guide investment decisions.

Auckland Airport chief strategic planning officer Mary-Liz Tuck said a second runway would eventually be needed, but operational and airfield efficiency meant the date could be revised.

"First, we will fully explore all the ways we can ensure our current airfield operates as efficiently as possible," Tuck said. "If the existing runway cannot provide the capacity New Zealand requires, then we will commence consultation with airlines on the second runway."

The airport said it would have the capacity for 38 million travellers by 2047 compared to 18 million passengers in 2024. It expected air cargo to grow by more than 40 percent to 223,000 tonnes.

New regional terminal

The draft master plan also confirmed its existing strategy of integrating its domestic and international terminals.

The airport has already commenced work on a new domestic terminal.

It said the old domestic terminal would be reconfigured in the short-term for regional flights, but regional operations would eventually move to a new dedicated regional terminal after 2033.

The new regional terminal was planned to have a public departure hall, check-in and automated bag-drop, baggage handling, access and boarding pass control, security screening, departure loungers and wait areas, and baggage reclaim.

"The operational model the new terminal will operate is still unclear, the main complexity is whether screening will be introduced for regional services by FY33," the plan stated.

The airport said it would also continue to work with Auckland Transport and the NZ Transport Agency to secure mass transit to the airport from both the north and south-east.

Auckland Airport planned to carry out consultations over the next few months and aimed to have a final master plan by the end of the year.

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