KEY POINTS:
Auckland International Airport finally got its chance to show off its new giant terminal pier as the Emirates Airbus A380 made its first and long-awaited touchdown in Auckland.
The $50 million pier was four years in the planning and yesterday marked the first time it had been used by passengers of a scheduled flight.
Auckland Airport chief executive Simon Moutter said the pier - built specifically to accommodate the next generation of aircraft - was a significant milestone.
"The new pier will greatly improve service to travellers by giving us the ability to handle more aircraft at peak times, and offering further world class facilities in Auckland for the travelling public," he said. It allowed larger and more aircraft to use the airport, as well as removing the need to bus passengers to and from aeroplanes.
The $50 million included widening runways and taxiways.
The pier features environmentally-friendly fittings including highly filtrated air and carbon dioxide sensors and regular "flushouts" that will reduce dust, smells and chemical contaminants. Solar heating for public toilets' hot water and rainwater harvesting have also been installed.
The airport is gearing up to catering for up to 25 million passengers annually by 2025.
