Big pay rise for Auckland airport boss

Auckland Airport has rewarded its workers with a $1200 bonus and given its chief executive a pay rise of nearly 30 per cent.

Chief executive Adrian Littlewood has had his pay boosted to more than $2.2 million, Littlewood's remuneration last year was between $1.690,000 and $1.7 million, according to figures in annual reports.

The company's chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said executives were paid according to whether they had met performance targets.

"He's been there for three years and because of where the performance has gone he's hit the benchmarks. He's an experienced CEO and he's delivered," van der Heyden said.

The number of executives paid more than seven figures has been cut from five to four although two of those are categorised as former employees.

In August chief financial officer Simon Robertson and general manager of corporate affairs and company secretary Charles Spillane left the company following a review of the company's direction and strategy, including executive remuneration.

Van der Heyden told shareholders at the company's annual meeting that the review included overhauling its long-term executive incentive scheme which includes making available up to $1 million in interest-free loans for participants to buy shares.

" ... we have a new plan that has been agreed by the board and the leadership team that is much more in line with the market."

Shareholders approved a $42,699 increase in the directors' fee pool to $1.45 million, a rise of about three per cent.

The director's base fee is currently $110,600 while the chairman received $236,200.