Auckland Airport proud of RWC performance

Auckland Airport proud of RWC performance

Airport thanks everyone involved and lists some RWC highlights

Auckland Airport today thanked all of the people involved in delivering a successful, safe and smooth airport experience during the RWC 2011.

Auckland Airport Chief Executive Simon Moutter, said, “While the tournament was clearly a triumph for the All Blacks and for New Zealand as a nation, I’d also like to thank everyone who helped make the airport welcome and farewell aspect of the event such a resounding success for the thousands of fans, teams, and officials.”

“While the airport dealt with huge numbers of people on some days, nobody ‘dropped the ball’, and like the All Blacks, the high performance of all the organisations at the airport was maintained throughout the tournament. I’m proud of everyone involved. It was great to see the years of careful planning pay off.”

“The list of people to thank is enormous – the border agencies, the airlines, the retailers, the food & beverage suppliers, the Police, the ground-handlers, the cleaners, taxi-drivers, RWC 2011 and Auckland Council, the volunteers and of course the passengers themselves. Everyone at the airport helped play their part in creating a wonderful atmosphere and helped to grow New Zealand’s reputation as a great place to visit.”

“The processing time performance was maintained at a world-class level throughout the tournament, even on the peak days or when large cruise ship passenger volumes left at the same time. This was all a result of great planning and team work.” said Mr Moutter.

Some of the RWC highlights for Auckland Airport:

• Team welcomes – the success of a staged area outside of the normal processing areas and the active participation of schools and communities in supporting the arrival of seven of the teams was terrific – and the very popular arrival of some of the Pacific nations really got the tournament off to a flying start.

• The huge turnout to welcome the Tongan team. In particular the number of women who swept TV3 current affairs reporter, John Campbell, into the crowd. Given there was around 4,500 fans and about 20 to 30 airport staff to manage the crowd, we were pleased to see him survive the experience.

• Some incredibly busy days at the airport, with all peak days managed smoothly.

• The arrival of the William Web Ellis trophy with senior members of the IRB, to be met by the Prime Minister. The plane has left, but the trophy has stayed.

• The amazing number of hugs being extended to staff across the airport by departing passengers - all expressing their sheer pleasure at the tournament and their wonderful time in New Zealand.

• The great sense of humour of the Scottish team on arrival - they were a very popular team to escort through the airport. And some of the VIP’s were also in very good spirits, including an energetic Richard Branson who happily chatted to staff and to passengers and posed for photos despite it being 5.00am.

• The day when the returning Warriors teams arrived at the international terminal from their Grand Final at the same time as the All Blacks were transiting though the domestic terminal.

Some statistics:

• The airport managed nearly 880,000 international arrivals or departures during the event.

• There were 8 RWC team international arrivals and official acknowledgement ceremonies.

• There were 3 RWC team international arrival and immediate domestic transfers.

• There were dozens of domestic transfers for RWC teams and VIP’s.

• There was over 250 VIP international arrivals and departures.

• Massive quantities of RWC related freight was moved around the country.

• There were 15 RWC team international departures.

• On 15 October, Auckland Airport agencies and airlines processed 13,000 arriving international passengers in a single day. At the same time, processing performance was well maintained with 95% of passengers being processed in under 31 minutes with an average of 15 minutes.

• On 23 October there were 21 corporate jets parked on the airfield.

• On 24 October, the day after the final, Auckland Airport agencies and airlines processed 15,000 departing international passengers in a single day. At the same time, processing performance was well maintained with 95% of passengers being processed across the border in under 8 minutes with an average just under 4 minutes.

• On the same day the Adidas airport store had its busiest day ever, and other stores selling RWC related products were selling out of stock by 7.30am in the morning. And it wasn’t just kiwis buying the All Blacks gear.

RWC planning:

In preparation for RWC 2011 Auckland Airport implemented a program of approximately 100 activities, working very closely with Police, Customs, MAF Biosecurity, Aviation Security, the airlines and RWC 2011. These included;

• Modelling the predicted peak days at the domestic and international terminals, identifying “pinch points” and developing preventative and contingent actions with our airline partners and border agencies.

• Provision of an extra security screening area and machines at the domestic terminal to alleviate congestion issues.

• Domestic and international terminal forecourt changes to ease congestion, facilitate better traffic flow, and make provision for more public transport.

• Provision of additional bus and car parking capacity.

• A revamp of the international terminal arrivals experience, particularly the airside arrivals corridor and the landside public arrivals hall.

• A revamp of signage at both terminals.

• The development of a specific Gate Lounge (4E) as the processing point for all RWC teams and VIP’s.

• Recruiting, training and organising extra staff to assist during peak periods.

• Maintenance activities to ensure the reliability and robustness of our key services and infrastructure.

• Ensuring that grounds and landscaping presented the best possible first impression we could of New Zealand.

• A restricted works period between 29 August and 28 October when only back of house, routine maintenance (faults and preventative maintenance), low-risk (in terms of airport operations) and pre-approved construction activities took place.

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