Shareholders at Auckland Airport’s annual general meeting have made it clear they want better access to the precinct.
Chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden told the crowd the company is making $1.8 billion in infrastructure improvements, which includes roading upgrades on its network to ease congestion.
“We continue to strongly advocate to government – both local and central – the need for better public transport services, and state highway access, to and from the airport.
“I am delighted to say that we fast-tracked a number of planned roading and transport improvements on our own network to improve traffic flows.”
However, while several shareholders that spoke were generally supportive of airport management, they encouraged the company to push the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport for better solutions.
“The question is when will you as a board make a commitment to the residents of Auckland to provide commercial airport services to the greater Auckland region,” one shareholder noted.
Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood told the crowd he favours a multi-modal transport approach, although much of the work needs to be done by NZTA and AT.
In terms of the airport precinct, Littlewood says it is making plenty of changes to make getting around easier, including the installation of bus lanes.
