Air New Zealand Air Points - Yay! Customs at AKL expanding

In good news for those who dislike being stuck in thirty-minute queues at outbound and inbound passport control (namely me), Auckland Airport has announced that it is finally doing something about it:

http://www.buildingnewzealandsgateway.com/downloads/Emigration%20and%20Immigration%20changes.pdf

I'm not so sure about the outbound improvements (last time it wasn't so much not enough counters as not enough people manning the counters) but the reconfiguration of the arrivals area sounds good. Especially if it involves getting rid of that awful bottleneck situation flowing into the MAF screening area.

...is it too little too late? While I certainly welcome the developments, they are fairly small incremental increases (with the exception of the outbound security screening points, which increase by 50%) so will only have a relatively small effect on the delays. If AKL is serious about expanding to cater for increasing passenger numbers it should be doing something a little more dramatic than this, methinks...

I think you have hit the nail on the head mad_atta, they really need more immigration officials and more screeners (both security and MAF).

It wasnt clear to me whether this is being implemented now (where is the extra space coming from) or as part of the terminal expansion/second deck on pier?

They want to complete it by the peak Christmas season, so hopefully it'll provide temporary short-term relief this summer, at any rate. But I agree, it's probably not a long-term solution.

I was just browsing www.buildingnewzealandsgateway.com and i noticed this. I presume they mean the International Lounge.

Pier Segregation
Work on the Pier Segregation Project has just begun with the large construction crew mobilising themselves and setting up their site sheds on the roof of the pier. The site establishment is outside the Air New Zealand VIP lounge and will unfortunately obscure some of the view enjoyed from there. Much of the work over the next couple of months will be behind the scenes with foundation work outside the building being the focus. The pond near the end of the pier will be removed to make way for a new escalator pit. In August, gate 1 will close for a period of time while the walkway link to the four new aircraft hardstands is constructed.(Emphasis Added)

Did anyone see the One News clip about how landing charges and departure taxes are likely to go up as a result of AKL fobbing off extensions for years, and now that they are finally going to bring the airport up to at least an acceptable standard, they can't fund it from the $94m profit they recorded for the last financial year, not to mention the profits they've been raking in over the last few years?

:mad: :td: :mad:

I was just browsing www.buildingnewzealandsgateway.com and i noticed this. I presume they mean the International Lounge.

Unfortunately yes. There are 3 or so porta offices set up a few meters away from the windows of the second lounge room (the one that also looks over the duty free area). It's not too bad though as you still have a decent view from the main lounge window seats. I'm wondering though what the view will be like when the new pier is actaully there. Pretty much pier-orientated I'm guessing.

Cheers, Zac

Perfect time for NZ to install a new lounge for their J/F class customers only.

Did anyone see the One News clip about how landing charges and departure taxes are likely to go up as a result of AKL fobbing off extensions for years, and now that they are finally going to bring the airport up to at least an acceptable standard, they can't fund it from the $94m profit they recorded for the last financial year, not to mention the profits they've been raking in over the last few years?

:mad: :td: :mad:

That really is disgraceful. They have been far more focused on being the sharemarket's darling and handing out a huge proportion of profits (over 80% IIRC) as dividends to shareholders rather than reinvesting.

I really don't think that Auckland needs another airport at Whenuapai but that sort of behaviour adds a lot of support to the 'we need another airport to escape AKL's monopoly behaviour' argument... :mad:

One of my favourite spots in the lounge is around the corner from the main part where you can look over the pier and see a/c down both sides as well as a chunk of the apron. Usually not as busy as the main part.

I guess with another level on the pier the view will be more obscured.

Did anyone see the One News clip about how landing charges and departure taxes are likely to go up as a result of AKL fobbing off extensions for years, and now that they are finally going to bring the airport up to at least an acceptable standard, they can't fund it from the $94m profit they recorded for the last financial year, not to mention the profits they've been raking in over the last few years?

:mad: :td: :mad:

Wonder how commerce commission will react to that? IIRC it wasnt so long ago they studied AKL and WLG airport charges - found AKL was too high and WLG marginal. But took no action, possibly in part on the grounds of needed to fund future developments.

AKL outbound customs is already changed. Not so much expanded as reconfigured. The rope zig zag is now hard against the wall (behind where the customs booths used to be) and is waaaaay shorter. I expect there will be times when queues will be out into the general public part of the terminal.

There seem to be similar number of customs booths (but I didnt stop to count), but there is a couple more xray machines which should speed that part up (when fully staffed).

AKL outbound customs is already changed. Not so much expanded as reconfigured. The rope zig zag is now hard against the wall (behind where the customs booths used to be) and is waaaaay shorter. I expect there will be times when queues will be out into the general public part of the terminal.

So, that's an improvement... how? :confused: Although I hear they're in the midst of demolishing something in the outbound hall to make room for queueing space, so maybe (hopefully) that's just not been completed yet.

Still, it's nice that they're keeping the curious public updated on their 'Building NZ's Gateway' website. It's about the only positive thing I really have to say about this airport, because their 4 new hard stands situated a kilometre away from the main terminal touted as the solution to everyone's problems certainly isn't going to do it.

I suppose they are working to the theory an increase in screeners (and maybe customs officers) means they dont need as much queue space. We'll see - it was hardly busy when I went through so cant really comment.

Okay found this (http://www.auckland-airport.co.nz/Times/Airport%20Times%20Sept%202004.pdf) which indicates the work was only half complete when I went through. The offices were still in the old place but everything else seemed to be the new layout. That will make more room for the queue - similar (maybe a bit less) than the old layout queue area.