Ground shift: Airfield ‘tennis courts’ close to aircraft to make way for new domestic jet terminal

•    Airfield closure clears way for construction of new 12-gate domestic terminal pier
•    New pier designed to lift capacity and improve flexibility at peak times 
•    Rotorua-based family business supplies 9,400m2 home-grown flooring
•    Concrete set aside in favour of low-carbon timber flooring solution.
 
Travellers flying in or out of Auckland Airport may have noticed a large new construction area appearing alongside the runway in recent months.

It’s activity that marks the next stage of the build of the airport’s future domestic jet terminal, with a distinctive aircraft parking area known as the “tennis courts” now closed to aircraft as construction expands right out onto the airfield.

The site is being transformed into the new terminal’s 240-metre aircraft pier – almost a quarter of the length of the Auckland Harbour Bridge – which will house 12 jet gates connecting travellers directly to their planes.

The airfield area, nicknamed the tennis courts because of its distinctive grid-like markings, previously served as a parking area for aircraft and domestic cargo operations. These operations have now moved to the new airfield area to the north of the international terminal.

Auckland Airport Chief Infrastructure Officer Murray Burt said the shift out across the airfield represents an important step forward for the integrated terminal project.
“Closing this section of airfield allows us to extend construction to where domestic jet aircraft will eventually park at the new pier,” said Mr Burt. “It’s a major component of the new terminal and part of the wider transformation of Auckland Airport’s terminals.”

With aircraft operations relocated, construction of the new domestic jet pier is well underway. Along the length of the pier around 280 piles are in place, and the steel structural elements now extend roughly a third of the way along the final length.

As the framework takes shape, work is underway on installing the structural floor of the pier – a key component supporting traveller gate lounge seating areas, amenities and concourses.

Laying a sustainable future
For this part of the build, Auckland Airport is using cross-laminated timber (CLT) sections of structural flooring rather than the more commonly used reinforced concrete,

introducing a lower-carbon approach to construction. Rotorua-based family-owned business, Red Stag, is supplying the more than 9,400m2 of CLT needed for the pier.

Mr Burt said using the engineered timber product supports Auckland Airport’s broader sustainability goals for the new terminal.

“Flooring in large infrastructure projects like this is typically built using steel and concrete, and we have continued to use that approach within the main part of the domestic jet terminal because it supports a more flexible use of that section of the building.

“But the pier presented an opportunity to take a different approach and use cross-laminated timber as a lower-carbon option, without compromising performance or how the terminal will operate once complete,” he said.

Cross-laminated timber is made by bonding layers of timber at right angles to create a strong structural material. Compared with concrete and steel it requires less energy to produce and is made from a renewable material, helping reduce the amount of carbon built into the terminal from the outset.

“CLT is strong, resilient and relatively lightweight. It can be transported to site efficiently and craned into place, so large sections can be ready to work on straight away, which helps keep construction moving. Because it’s lighter, it also needs lighter-weight foundations, which can make it a more cost-effective option for this part of the build.

“It’s one of several design decisions we’ve made to reduce the embodied carbon of the building while ensuring the terminal will operate efficiently once complete.”

Supporting local manufacturing capability
The CLT used in the project is manufactured in Rotorua by Red Stag, New Zealand’s only specialist cross-laminated timber producer.

Mr Burt said sourcing the material locally was also an important consideration.
“Auckland Airport plays a critical role in connecting communities and strengthening the wider New Zealand economy. Working with a Kiwi manufacturer like Red Stag helps build capability in New Zealand’s construction sector while supporting regional jobs.”

Jason Cordes, Director at Red Stag, said supplying CLT for Auckland Airport’s domestic jet terminal pier was a landmark project for the company and a strong reflection of the future of low-carbon construction in Aotearoa.

“This project showcases how advanced mass timber can deliver lighter, faster and more sustainable infrastructure, while highlighting the capability of New Zealand manufacturing and renewable forestry.”

Jet pier designed for flexibility
The domestic jet terminal is one of New Zealand’s most significant infrastructure projects currently underway. Scheduled to open in 2029, it will bring domestic jet and international travel together within 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.

When operational, the pier will increase the number of jet gates serving 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 per cent at peak times.

“That’s functionality we just don’t have in our existing domestic terminal. MARS gates give us the flexibility to adjust to the mix of flights on the day, efficiently using gate space, helping keep people moving at busy times and speed up recovery when schedules are disrupted. And it’s backed by the overall terminal design, which will deliver significantly more processing capacity for travellers,” said Mr Burt.

Alongside the pier construction, extensive work is underway across 70,000m2 of new apron area that will support domestic jet operations, including installing 1,000 metres of fuel pipeline and fuel hydrants, and electric ground power units for aircraft at the gate.

Combined with improved gate lounges and boarding areas, the design will help improve traveller flows and enable faster aircraft turnarounds at New Zealand’s busiest airport.