Filming & photography at the airport

Auckland Airport is an exciting place with lots happening.

If you’d like to film or take photography for commercial use at Auckland Airport, including premium outlet centre Mānawa Bay, you need to seek approval in advance of your visit. This helps us plan for your filming, while making sure the day-to-day operations of the airport can continue smoothly.

Sometimes requests to film may also need to be approved by the various airlines, government agencies and other organisations operating at Auckland Airport, including Mānawa Bay.

For operational reasons there may be times we’ll need to decline requests to film at the airport and at Mānawa Bay, so please make sure you contact us in advance.

News and Current Affairs

News crews wanting to film or take photographs at the airport terminals, car parks, roads, airfield and at Mānawa Bay, need to contact the Auckland Airport communications team on +64 (0)27 406 3024 prior to filming. This means we can let our operations teams know media crews are working in or around the terminals.

It is good to give us as much notice as possible although we understand that breaking news doesn’t always allow for advanced warning.

Access to airside areas - the airfield and areas after security - is only possible under special circumstances and requires several days’ notice. News media crews cannot film security staff or people dealing with security equipment unless permission has been granted by the relevant border or government agency.

General information about flight delays and cancellations due to weather and other events can be found on our flights page, or Twitter feed.

Commercial filming

All commercial filming requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to film or photograph at Auckland Airport, or Mānawa Bay, for commercial purposes, please compete the Request Form via the link above. Please ensure all requests are sent at least 10 working days before your proposed filming date. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please note: Commercial filming requests will be unavailable for processing between December 17th and January 9th.

Social media

Auckland Airport asks social media users to be considerate of other people in the terminals and to seek permission before filming or photographing someone, this includes staff, passengers and members of the public. This also applies to Mānawa Bay.

Planespotting

We’re thrilled to have people as keen on aviation and planes as we are, capturing the excitement and beauty of aircraft at our airport.

We kindly ask that you enjoy your time responsibly by following our guidelines (below), which are required to ensure everyone's safety and a smooth operation for all.

Please note that filming or photography for commercial use requires prior written approval in accordance with our by-laws. This is requested via the form on the link above and needs to be submitted 5 working days in advance.

Thank you for being a part of our community, and happy plane spotting!

Planespotting Guidelines:

1. Please stick to publicly accessible areas only. Stay clear of private land and businesses.
2. Please wear a high-vis vest at all times.
3. No drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) may be used at any time.
4. Take all reasonable steps to maintain your safety.
5. Please remain 1.5m away from boundary fences. Do not put anything through, over, or lean anything against them at any time.
6. Don’t stand on ladders.
7. Be aware of, and do not disrupt traffic or interfere with parked vehicles.
8. In the case of an emergency, follow all instructions provided by an approved airport staff member.
9. Be considerate of others and share the vantage points so everyone can spot.
10. Do not film or take photos of anyone without their consent.
11. You may be approached by a member of the Airport Security team, Aviation Security, Police, or other Border Agency. They are responsible for the safety of our airport and all visitors. Please respect and comply with their questions and / or instructions.
12. If planespotting from Car Park R (outside the Domestic Terminal):

• Please call monitoring when you arrive on 0800 677 242, option 4 and let them know your location and how long you intend to be there.
• Don’t lean over the rails, please remain entirely within the footprint of the building.
• Don’t take up a carparking space unless you are parked in it.

The guidelines are here for your safety and security, and we ask you abide by them. Failure to do so may see your ability to continue filming restricted.