Paving the way: Countdown to major runway upgrades at AKL

Auckland Airport
19 March 2025

• $40 million invested to date in enabling work to allow runway to close for upgrades around 2030
• Existing taxiway will be converted to operate as a runway during upgrades
• Runway upgrades dependent on opening of new domestic jet terminal

Groundwork is already well underway at Auckland Airport in preparation for the largest programme of pavement upgrades to take place on the runway in 20 years – planned maintenance that is essential to the future resilience and safety of the airfield.

In about five years’ time Auckland Airport needs to replace slabs across the main areas of the runway and nearby taxiways - upgrades that are standard practice in concrete airports around the world and, for Auckland Airport, can only be carried out with a full closure of the runway.

Although the work isn’t scheduled until about 2030, a suite of projects is already well underway across the airfield to pave the way for the runway closure, with the airport team progressively upgrading an alternative runway and widening a nearby taxiway.

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