Billie Moore: NZ Airports Association CEO on the report looking at integrating domestic and international terminals

Airports could save money and drive down airfares by bringing domestic and international terminals together. 

A study has found integrated airport terminals save on double-ups and encourage passengers to spend more money. 

It shows this extra revenue could help airports cut costs for airlines, which could mean cheaper fares for travellers. 

NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore told Mike Hosking integration is the dream for all airports. 

She says it helps them build better, save on spending over time, and makes the passenger experience better.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
An idea for our airport's integration is what they're talking about,
bringing domestic and international terminals together. The Mercurious Group have
done this particular work. They so when these customer angst
cut overheads and ultimately deliver cheaper plane texts. Do you
believe that? Billy Moore's the chief executive at New Zealand
Airports Association and as with us, Billy, good morning. I
believe you're in China. Are you up early for us?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
I sure am, anything for your listeners.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
You're very kind, Billy very well said. Has this report
got a logic to it?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Absolutely it does. Integration is the dream for all airports
that helps airports build better and save on kepex spend
over time. It also makes a passenger experience better, access
to more amenities and better and often less screening processes.
So they're definitely onto something with this.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
They say, integration's quite common overseas, not so much here.
Is that true?

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, that's right. There's a few reasons why. There's a
couple of different aspects to this. Ultimately would be for
harmonized screening processes, So that's where domestic and international screening
processes would be the same, meaning we could integrate screening
lanes and dwell spaces. The report talks about the fact
that there's also stage screening, so processes where international and

(01:19):
domestic passengers are screened together first and then international pieces
of screened another time, say at the gate before you
head to your flight. That's possible in places like Australia.
They highlight Adelaide And part of the reason for that
will be because the reports manage security screening in Australia
themselves rather than it being a government agency like we

(01:41):
have here, giving them more flexibility in how they apply it.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Do you believe and all reports would say the same thing.
Once you get these so called efficiencies, everyone saves money
and the fees are cheaper and the tickets are cheap
And none of that's actually true is it? In reality? Oh?

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Look, it's a little bit more nuanced than that. When
priority for us because when we look at it, we're
planning infrastructure speed in safe thirty years in advance. There
as savings from CAFEX planning when you can create more
efficient spaces, but where the savings come and are when
you can lay around the operational efficiencies on top of that. So,

(02:16):
for instance, look at Wellington. Right now you've got three
screening areas. If you can reduce that down, the operational
savings from staff and etc. On top of that really
do make a difference. So it's about the combination of
things and creating better spaces and better efficiencies.

Speaker 1 (02:32):
On top of that, the report talks about a moving
passengers into a singular depressurized experience. Is that just gobbledy Google?
Is that real?

Speaker 2 (02:41):
Look at as real. The more that you can have
one space, it means that passengers will have access to
more retail, more amenities. Sometimes at some reports you do
find that when you get through to your secure warning
area is less to do. So they're highlighting that, you know,
there can be a better experience through everyone, the greater

(03:05):
the spaces and the more integrated the spaces that people
can wait in.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
Good on you, billy, What time is at four o'clock?

Speaker 2 (03:11):
It's three fifty six.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yeah, what are you doing now? You're going back to better?
Are you going for a little bit of breakfast?

Speaker 2 (03:17):
Oh? Look, I'll probably have a little bit more resa
over here. I'm doing some cooperation with the Chinese reports
and look, the volumes they deal with always have big
ideas for us so I'll have some sleep and get
ready for some more discussion.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
Always a pleasure, Billy nice one. Billy Moore, chief Executive,
New Zealand Airports Association, up for us at three fifty
five in the morning, which reminds me of Simon Wants,
Minister of the Crown, who the other day was in
Canberra and would have needed to have been up to us.
Up for us at five point thirty in the morning,
but apparently that was far too early, Far too early
for a minister, but not too early for Billy Moore

(03:52):
in China. Just saying.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
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