Auckland International Airport, located in Auckland, New Zealand, is the largest and busiest airport in the country. It serves as a hub for both international and domestic flights and is the primary gateway to and from New Zealand. The airport was initially established in 1965 after the Auckland Harbour Bridge caused the expansion of the city and a need for an airport infrastructure that could accommodate an ever-increasing demand for air travel.

The airport was initially known as Mangere Airport, which is derived from the Mangere Bridge that connected the airport to the city. In 1988, the airport was renamed Auckland International Airport, which was chosen to reflect the increasing international flights that were taking off from this location.

The airport code of the airport, AKL, was determined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The code is based on the name of the airport, and each letter of the code corresponds to a letter in the name, with the first two letters, 'AK', representing Auckland.

Auckland International Airport is the busiest in the country, with over 18 million passengers passing through its terminals in 2019. The airport is served by over 30 airlines, including Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines. The airport has an average of 600 flights departing and arriving each day, with many of these flights connecting to destinations around the world.

The airport has a wide range of amenities, including cafes and restaurants, duty-free shopping, banks and ATMs, and car rental services. In addition, the airport has two terminals, the International Terminal and the Domestic Terminal. The airport also features a special terminal for long-haul and international flights, known as the Special Purpose Terminal, which is located near the International Terminal.

Auckland International Airport is a major contributor to the New Zealand economy, with the airport and its associated services providing over 10,000 jobs and contributing over NZ$3.5 billion to the economy. The airport is also committed to sustainability and has invested in numerous initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint.