{"id":313173,"date":"2026-03-04T21:53:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/313173\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T21:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:53:08","slug":"auckland-airports-new-international-check-in-southbase-wins-contract-1000-jobs-could-be-created","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/313173\/","title":{"rendered":"Auckland Airport\u2019s new international check-in: Southbase wins contract, 1000 jobs could be created"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWe\u2019ve just been completing the new satellite check-in<\/a> at the front of the Transport Hub,\u201d Beddis told the Herald.<\/p>\n

Southbase was also working in the \u201cback of house\u201d behind check-in counters, refurbishing and piling.<\/p>\n

\u201cStep by step we\u2019ll be moving along the building progressively,\u201d said Beddis.<\/p>\n

He said the project would run until the second half of 2028.<\/p>\n

At its peak, several hundred workers will be on the ground and overall, probably 1000 would be employed over the course of the project, Beddis said.<\/p>\n

Until today, some project details had been under wraps.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been hiring across New Zealand over the past six months. Our headcount has grown a chunk, which is great,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Southbase was looking for mechanical, electrical and structural engineers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd digital engineering\u2019s a massive part of what we do, so we design and build things virtually before we try and do it physically,\u201d Beddis said.<\/p>\n

The work will have to be conducted without adversely impacting crowds of travellers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an incredibly complex project. This is the gateway to New Zealand, so the customer experience is front and centre of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Work will be split into several stages.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll close off areas and open up areas progressively, so it\u2019s seamless really.\u201d<\/p>\n

A key feature will be a new facade from floor to roof, and the whole concourse will be refurbished.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be a very light and bright building.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hawkins is constructing the new domestic jet terminal, which would be an indoor walk away from international.<\/p>\n

Beddis said Auckland would be able to compete with other integrated international airports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With the new terminal, a person travelling from Christchurch on a jet to Auckland then overseas should have fewer disruptions and not have to leave the Auckland building.<\/p>\n

\"AnAn impression of what the new temporary pavilion will look like. Image \/ Supplied<\/p>\n

Beddis said he had been working on design and procurement with the airport for two years.<\/p>\n

He said he previously worked in the Middle East, on major projects in Dubai.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first airport \u2026 across our team though we\u2019ve got a lot of Auckland Airport experience, and guys who\u2019ve worked on London Heathrow, for example. It\u2019s a unique environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quin Henderson, Southbase founder and chief executive, said the project would create an innovative and efficient terminal. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be expanding our workforce and partnering with local suppliers to deliver a terminal that sets a new benchmark for travel in New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Southbase said it was founded in 2013 as part of recovery efforts after the Canterbury earthquakes. <\/p>\n

A group of independent specialist companies, the Southbase Group has become one of New Zealand\u2019s biggest builders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Its backers included Christchurch businessmen Philip Carter and Ben Gough.<\/p>\n

Auckland Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said work would have to be delivered safely and carefully in a live airport environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project is about making check-in easier and more efficient for travellers, while giving us the space and flexibility we need as travel demand grows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Global architectural firm Populous last year said advances in security, biometrics and border policy were helping speed up adoption of integrated terminals.<\/p>\n

Adelaide and Hobart already used integrated models.<\/p>\n

Auckland Airport major projects<\/p>\n

John Weekes<\/a> is a business journalist covering aviation and court. He has previously covered consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts.<\/p>\n

Stay ahead with the latest market moves, corporate updates, and economic insights by subscribing to our Business newsletter<\/a> \u2013 your essential weekly round-up of all the business news you need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cWe\u2019ve just been completing the new satellite check-in at the front of the Transport Hub,\u201d Beddis told the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":313174,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[20299,2681,6224,51,5195,138,31870,1568,1566,124,5426,29429,1019,232,117,111,139,69,3263,170204,6202],"class_list":{"0":"post-313173","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-20299","9":"tag-airport","10":"tag-airports","11":"tag-auckland","12":"tag-be","13":"tag-business","14":"tag-checkin","15":"tag-construction","16":"tag-contract","17":"tag-could","18":"tag-created","19":"tag-deliver","20":"tag-international","21":"tag-jobs","22":"tag-new","23":"tag-new-zealand","24":"tag-newzealand","25":"tag-nz","26":"tag-project","27":"tag-southbase","28":"tag-wins"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313173\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}