Auckland Airport is to build a retail outlet mall boasting more than 100 stores and food outlets. 

While details of the centre remain scant at this stage, the shopping centre will be tenanted by outlet stores for luxury and lifestyle brands.

Such outlet stores located near airports are increasingly common in Asian markets – including in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Shanghai – offering travellers a duty-free shopping opportunity and locals the chance to buy closeout stock at discounted prices. Brands use them to avoid discounting products in their mainline stores or having to destroy unsold stock and end-of-season lines.   

The centre will have a footprint of 23,000sqm and will generate an estimated 500 jobs. It will be located on the north-eastern edge of the airport’s precinct which in the photograph above would place it somewhere adjacent to the upper area on the other side of a long-planned second runway.

The timetable is unclear, as is the identity of the retail property management partner the airport would reasonably be expected to engage on a project of this nature. 

News of the development was referred to during the release of the airport company’s annual trading results on Thursday. An email to the company’s communications team went unanswered. 

However, the results announcement did say the company would plan transport access to and from the centre in such a way it did not affect airport terminal traffic. 

“Major phases of development [will] be influenced by the strength of the retail market and the recovery of aviation,” the company said. 

The mall will be built according to sustainable design principles to meet Auckland Airport’s target of Green Star-rated design and build.