Airport Times Keeping the Auckland Airport community informed | Issue 78 September 2008 | ISSN1176-9432 Protecting our borders Inside this issue: • The $90m arrivals makeover is complete • We meet Simon Moutter, the new chief at Auckland Airport • Why Auckland Airport loves rain! • The Marae joins the world wide web Right: The carving, Te Hokioi (Haast’s Eagle), is Blaine Te Rito’s artistic image of the ancient eagle that once dominated New Zealand’s skies. Te Hokioi was designed to represent the role of New Zealand Customs as protectors of New Zealand’s shores and borders and sits high above the new Customs’ area. for 10 assessor booths, up from six, welcoming travellers to New Zealand Bigger and an increase in x-ray screening and protecting our borders with positions from nine to 11. Customs quick and effi cient processing,” has also gained a larger screening Don says. and better and search area. In declaring the area open Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, commended the border The opening expansion. completes a $90 agency area “The expanded secondary screening million investment area is one way that we are A large Maori carving depicting facilitating increased passenger the extinct Haast’s Eagle to improve border volumes. We now have more space will keep a watchful eye over processing for to assess and interact with travellers. arriving travellers at Auckland Finding the balance between Airport’s international terminal arriving travellers at facilitation and security at the border as part of a newly expanded Auckland Airport. is an ongoing challenge and these border agency screening area. improved facilities will allow not only Stage one, completed in April Customs, but also our colleagues in The 11-metre carving, by celebrated 2008, saw the opening of a new MAF and Immigration to provide a Maori artist Blaine Te Rito, was arrivals area facility that included an better experience for travellers,” says unveiled by the Minister of Customs, improved Customs and Immigration Ms Mahuta. Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, as part of the experience, along with a much offi cial opening of the area last month. enhanced duty free arrivals shopping The expanded screening hall is the experience. Key Facts second stage of a project aimed Auckland Airport’s former CEO, • Total space increased from at improving the arrival experience Don Huse, believes that the change 1,910 to 3,050 sqm for international travellers. It now to the border agency screening area provides capacity for faster and more is an important part of creating a • Improved queuing effi cient processing of travellers with welcoming fi rst impression. • Increase in assessor booths the ability to process 2,500 travellers from 6 to 10 “Auckland Airport is committed to per hour in peak time – an increase improving the visitor and traveller • Increase in x-ray screening of 25%. experience. The new arrivals area positions from 9 to 11 The enlarged area has increased that opened earlier this year and • Enlarged Customs from 1,910 to 3,050 square-metres the opening of the border agency ‘secondary’ screening area and features more operational space arrival screening hall all helps • Ability to process 2,500 for border agents MAF Biosecurity improve effi ciency for travellers travellers per hour – an New Zealand and New Zealand while also providing an attractive, increase of 25% Customs. MAF now has the space modern environment. It’s all part of 02 Airport Times Left: Simon Moutter, the new The year in The scoop face of Auckland summary on Simon Airport. Auckland Airport announced On 25 August 2008, new CEO its fi nancial results to the Simon Moutter took delivery of public last month and despite the captain’s hat and log from the considerable market and Don Huse. We asked Simon to industry challenges, the results tell the airport community a bit for the year were positive. about himself... We cut to the chase and give What are your interests? you the highlights of the year: “I love getting out and doing things $351 million – Total Auckland with my family. My wife Sophie and Airport revenue for the 2008 I spend a lot of time outdoors with fi nancial year. Up 9% from last our toddler Ben, and the older kids year. and I are keen dirt-bikers and often go off-road in the weekends. I’m and John Goulter. We are on a $103 million – Net Profi t After also a photography and technology long-running growth trend, in a Tax for the 2008 fi nancial year, buff (and defi nitely Mac), with little dynamic industry, in a globalised and up 3.3% on last year. Ben providing much of the subject ever-changing world, and our role 13,202,772 passengers – matter.” increasingly means creating a positive Total passenger movements experience for people.” How has your career developed through Auckland Airport over to date? the last year. A 6.4% increase “I’m really looking on last year. “My working life can be split into three forward to getting phases. The fi rst is post-university 6,533,285 passengers – as a practising electrical engineer. my head around Number of international The second phase was cutting my passenger movements corporate teeth in management roles the challenges and (excluding transits and in the energy sector. Most recently opportunities.” transfers). An increase of 2.5% have been my various roles with on the same time last year. Telecom. I am attracted to industries What is your philosophy on business? 5,740,089 passengers – that actually mean something and Number of domestic passenger deliver real benefi ts to New Zealand. “I focus on driving performance movements. Strong growth on Auckland Airport fi ts the bill – it is and getting a healthy alignment of last year, up 13.2%. vital to New Zealand, and provides results for customers, shareholders a tangible service to the community and employees. If you deliver for $41 million – The price tag for and economy.” customers, all other stakeholders the extreme makeover of the will benefi t. If we do this, then in fi ve domestic terminal. What are you looking forward to? years’ time there will be more wide- $143 million – Spent on a range “Auckland Airport is in great position spread recognition and support of runway, terminal, retail and for the next phase of its evolution. from all of our stakeholders. That’s investment property projects. It is an opportune time to build on what success will look like for me.” the foundations laid by Don Huse 8.2 cents per share – The full year dividend to be paid to shareholders on 24 October Left: Just hours 2008. Same dividend as last before they were year. due to jump on a plane to Wellington Other highlights and compete for the top spot at • Removal of passenger the New Zealand departure fee Choral Federation • Improved access to the Secondary airport with new bus services Schools’ Finale, the Aorere College • Second runway begins to Sweet Sixteen take shape Choir performed for the guests • New international terminal attending Don’s arrivals area opens for farewell function. business The 26 students, • Rated the friendliest airport in ranging from Year 9-13 rehearse the world in the 2007 World every morning Airport Awards survey under the watchful • New foreign exchange, taxi, Haere ra Don eye of conductor shuttle and rental car licences They came from as far as Sydney, Hong Kong, Wellington and Doug Nyce and regularly perform at awarded Queenstown to pay their respects and bid farewell to Captain Don. corporate events. • Installation of new Cat III B After fi ve years in the cockpit at Auckland Airport, Don has traded his wings technology enabling low for a more relaxed chapter in life. Almost 180 people attended a function visibility landing at Villa Maria last month to wish him well and thank him for the enormous Far left: Don salutes contribution he has made to the airport’s success. his time at the airport. Airport Times 03 Right: The inaugural AKL-MEL fl ight takes Daffodil Day – off on 22 September. 29 August 2008 Daffodil Day symbolises hope for the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer. It is the Cancer Society’s fl agship annual event and is one of the most important fundraising and awareness campaigns in the country. Every year, Auckland Airport opens its doors to the daffodil collectors, giving travellers and staff the opportunity to purchase a daffodil in support of the day. New Pacifi c Blue The daffodil is a symbol of the beginning of spring. Its bright yellow trans-Tasman service blooms remind us of the joys the new season will bring and it represents If you’re looking for a quick trip across the ditch the options just the hope there is for all those affected got better, with Pacifi c Blue announcing the launch of two new by cancer. trans-Tasman services. The airline will be operating nine return services a week between Auckland and Sydney starting in October, and a daily service between Auckland and Melbourne beginning in September. Pacifi c Blue is the fi rst low-cost carrier to operate on these routes and the announcements are yet more evidence of Pacifi c Blue’s confi dence in growing the trans-Tasman market. “Pacifi c Blue has helped grow the domestic market signifi cantly since November 2007, and we believe this new service will further stimulate demand on the trans-Tasman sector,” says former CEO Don Huse. Pacifi c Blue CEO John Bartlett said that international expansion was a logical next step for the airline following its successful launch of domestic services within New Zealand.