Auckland Airport to upgrade baggage system and introduce luggage storage
Monday 21 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Auckland Airport
Auckland Airport is implementing a new 10km baggage conveyor system and a dedicated 'bag hotel'. This overhaul aims to speed up luggage collection and allow travellers to store their suitcases hours before flights.
Key facts
5 facts
- New baggage system to be completed in 2029
- The 'bag hotel' can hold up to 3000 pieces of luggage
- The conveyor network will span 10km
- The bag hotel uses 6.5-metre-high racking in a 40-by-20-metre area
- 15 additional automated bag drops are planned for installation later this year
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Auckland Airport is implementing a new 10km luggage conveyor network and a robotic crane-controlled "bag hotel". This project is part of an integrated terminal development scheduled for completion in 2029. The new system will triple the size of the current network and allow controllers to track suitcases individually using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags.
The "bag hotel" facility will be able to store up to 3000 domestic and international bags. It will feature 6.5-metre-high racking within a 40-by-20-metre footprint. This will allow travellers to drop off luggage hours before check-in opens so they can explore the city hands-free.
The high-level controller for the system has already been installed after more than 1000 tests. Chief infrastructure officer Murray Burt stated, "While the current system has served us well for decades, it's been continually added to over the years, making it a bit of a spaghetti junction". The airport aims to replace the existing technology while maintaining normal flight operations, though construction may cause temporary disruption.
The airport is also moving toward a universal self-service check-in area for all airlines. Passengers will be able to use any available kiosk rather than queuing for specific airlines. Currently, there are 22 automated bag drops handling an average of 62,500 bags per month, with 15 more scheduled for installation later this year.
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald and Stuff.