Auckland Airport’s new domestic terminal takes shape
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Construction of Auckland Airport’s new domestic jet terminal is taking shape, marking the next stage of the build that will bring domestic and international travellers under one roof.
The new terminal’s 240-metre aircraft pier – almost a quarter of the length of the Auckland Harbour Bridge – will house 12 airbridges.
The area previously served as parking for aircraft and domestic cargo operations - moved to a new area to the north of the international terminal.
Auckland Airport chief infrastructure officer Murray Burt said the shift of the pier out across the airfield was an important step for the integrated terminal project.
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“Closing this section of airfield allows us to extend construction to where domestic jet aircraft will eventually park at the new pier,” Burt said. “It’s a major component of the new terminal and part of the wider transformation of Auckland Airport’s terminals.”
About 280 piles had been installed along its length, and the steel structural elements now extended about a third of the way along the final length.
As the framework takes shape, work had begun on installing the structural floor made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) sections, which was more environmentally friendly compared to the more commonly used reinforced concrete, Burt said.
The 9400m² CLT would be manufactured and supplied by Rotorua firm Red Stag.
The pier would also house gate lounge seating areas, amenities and concourses.
The domestic jet terminal was scheduled to open in 2029, and would bring domestic jet and international travel together in a single integrated terminal.
At the heart of the design is a new aircraft pier built for flexibility, incorporating Multiple Aircraft Ramp System (Mars) gates. These allow airlines to adjust how stands are used across the day, accommodating either a larger aircraft or two smaller aircraft depending on demand.
Combined with improved gate lounges and boarding areas, the design would help improve traveller flows and enable faster aircraft turnarounds.
The pier would increase the number of jet gates for domestic aircraft from 10 to 12, but the layout enables all gates to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Airbus A321, increasing airline seat capacity by around 26% at peak times.
Alongside the pier construction, extensive work is underway on 70,000m² of new apron area for domestic jet operations, including installing 1000m of fuel pipeline and fuel hydrants, and electric ground power units for aircraft at the gate.
Airlines have been critical of the scale of the $1.4 billion redevelopment, which they say is beyond what is required and will lead to higher airfares.