Auckland Airport expects holiday check-ins to take extra 30mins
Passenger numbers on some days will be up 15% on last year.
Passenger numbers on some days will be up 15% on last year.
Peak holiday periods will cause more congestion, delays and waiting times at Auckland Airport.
It has issued a warning to travellers that they add half an hour for check-in procedures for domestic and international travel during December and January.
Airport general manager aeronautical operations Judy Nicholl says that, on some days, passenger numbers will be more than 15% higher than last year.
“We recommend everyone allows an extra 30 minutes for travel through the airport over the next couple of months,” she says.
“This will help ensure they have a relaxed journey. They should also give themselves extra time to travel to and from the airport, given the amount of roadworks happening around the Auckland region this summer.”
To help mitigate delays, Auckland Airport has increased its international baggage belt capacity by 40% and added 17,500sq m to the airfield for aircraft parking.
Next week it will complete the construction of a new gate bus lounge on Pier B of the international terminal.
“We will also have extra staff in the terminals over summer to help passengers, and we have been working closely with airlines and border agencies to improve the passenger experience,” Ms Nicholl says.
The airport has issued this specific advice:
Allow 30 minutes extra for their journeys through the airport;
Ensure hand luggage meets airline requirements;
Complete international departure card before reaching Customs; and
Ensure any liquid, aerosol and gel containers in hand luggage are not larger than 100ml and are all placed in one re-sealable, transparent plastic bag (20cm x 20cm or smaller) and put in an easily accessible location.
It also says the 10 busiest days will be December 19, 20, 22, 27 and 29; January 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.
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