Air New Zealand Unveils Landmark Timber Hangar at Auckland Airport
AUCKLAND – Air New Zealand has officially opened its new state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance facility at Auckland Airport, marking one of the airline’s most significant infrastructure investments. Known as Hangar 4, the facility is designed to support the national carrier’s fleet for the next 50 years and is notable for being the largest single-span arch aircraft hangar made from timber in the Southern Hemisphere.
The massive hangar, which is 10,000 square metres, 35 metres high, and nearly 100 metres wide, can accommodate a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and two Airbus A320 or A321s simultaneously. This increased capacity and efficiency will allow Air New Zealand engineers to conduct maintenance on multiple aircraft at once, helping to reduce turnaround times and get planes back in the air faster.
Designed with sustainability in mind, Hangar 4 is targeting a 6 Green Star Rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council. The use of timber, sourced from plantations in Nelson and Australia, was a key choice for its lighter weight, sustainable credentials, and performance in a coastal environment. The hangar also features an innovative ETFE roof that provides natural light and helps to retain heat, reducing the need for an external heating system.
The official opening was attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who was Air New Zealand’s chief executive when the project was first announced in 2019. He hailed the facility as critical for New Zealand’s future, supporting highly skilled jobs and positioning the airline for innovation and growth. Air New Zealand’s CEO, Greg Foran, described the new hangar as a “proud moment” for the airline, affirming its commitment to maintaining its fleet to the highest standards and signaling confidence in its future. The facility, which has already become a striking landmark on the Auckland skyline, is connected to the adjacent Hangar 3 through shared workshops and tool stores, boosting efficiency across the airline’s maintenance programmes.
