What You Need to Know About Arriving in New Zealand

... airports closer to your destination

Getting closer to "home", the Skytrax awards for Best Airport - Australia / Pacific went to:

but this is a little deceptive. They're in a different league. And, truth be told, there is not a lot of competition.

And Auckland dropped a place because of the changes going on there.

You might remember that in releasing results for the first four months of the 04-05 Financial Year at its Annual Meeting, Auckland International Airport reported passenger movements had just broken through 11 million a year.

Compare with Changi at 25 million, or Dubai at 18 million, and you'll begin to understand the infrastructural problems that are on the horizon.

Already, the airport management could say,

"These unprecedented activity levels have meant that the company's terminals and aircraft facilities have been operating near capacity at peak times of the day."

So after travelling all that way (up to 26 hours), your luxury flights to New Zealand could be marred by a wait as you go through immigration and customs. Because everyone has to do it.

To alleviate the pressure, the airport has detailed plans to invest $375 million during the next three years (2005-08). This will mean substantial building activity to expand capacity. So you should expect disruptions.

It will include adding 12 new check-in counters, new parking areas for four 747s, a second level to the international walkway to separate arrivals and departures. And enlarging the emigration hall.