Once the new pickup area is built, located at the western end of the International Terminal, it will be approximately 180 metres long and will feature a covered walkway.

Scott Tasker, Auckland Airport’s director of customer service, said it would be a big improvement for most arriving passengers who would now have to travel a much shorter distance to the temporary pick-up point.

“We would like to thank travellers and transport operators for their patience over the past few months as we have been using taxis, rideshares and shuttles from our temporary pick-up location,” he said.

“We have heard loud and clear feedback from travellers that they would like to be able to pick up passengers closer to their pick-up location, so we are working to provide this to the majority of travellers who wish to use commercial transport.

“Construction work in real-world conditions does present its own challenges, so we will adapt and respond as the work progresses.

The airport said the decision was made in response to customer requests and that construction of the new area was possible sooner than originally planned.

“When it comes to transportation pickup, our construction team was able to reorder elements of our construction program so that taxi and rideshare pickup, as well as Super Shuttles, could return closer to the International Terminal much earlier than planned,” Tasker said.

“We hope this is a welcome improvement for everyone.”