Auckland Airport’s northern airfield expansion is the most significant in our history

This new airfield, covering an area the size of 23 rugby fields, creates parking for up to 11 jets, while strengthening cargo connections between road and airfield.

It includes five MARS (Multiple Aircraft Ramp System) stands, each with in-ground jet fuel hydrants for tanker-free fuelling of aircraft. Built with flexibility in mind together the stands can accommodate both widebody and narrowbody jets.

The availability of the new stands increases the airfield efficiency, allowing aircraft with longer layovers to move off the terminal gates and park up here to prepare for the outbound flight, particularly during the daily peak periods.

The new apron sits alongside Auckland Airport’s developing cargo precinct, which connects directly via a newly built airside road and secure access.

Auckland Airport handles more than $26 billion in trade, making it New Zealand’s third-largest port by cargo value. By 2032, this is expected to rise to more than $41 billion annually.

The expanded airfield also paves the way for Auckland Airport to advance construction of the new domestic jet terminal, closing an area of airfield space to be reconfigured to become the new domestic jet terminal aircraft pier and apron.

Creating an airfield

Built to take the weight of some of the largest passenger aircraft, the northern airfield expansion is the most significant infrastructure project undertaken since the airport opened.

The airfield has a pavement build-up of about one metre with the top layer being half a metre of concrete. In some areas, where services and the 4.4km stormwater system that now runs under the airfield were installed, excavations went down to six metres

Recycling played a major role. Around 108,000 tonnes of old runway concrete was crushed and reused to help build the foundation layer of the new airfield.

To support the expanded infrastructure, a new high-tech power centre has been built. It will supply and control lighting across the expanded airfield, parts of the runway, taxiways, and aprons. These lights play a vital role in aircraft navigation and must be visible in all weather.

In future, the new lighting system will be enabled to report faults automatically and allow each smart fitting to be controlled remotely and independently, bringing greater safety and efficiency to airfield operations.

The expansion also provides the building blocks for future airfield growth, including more serviced stands. These would ultimately connect via taxiways to a second runway, if a decision is made to proceed with the project in the future.

Click here to learn more about the airfield expansion.

Northern airfield expansion