NIJL supplies wide-body docking system for Air New Zealand’s Hangar 4

NIJL has supplied a custom wide-body docking solution for Air New Zealand’s new Hangar 4 at Auckland Airport — a purpose-designed system that supports efficient, safe maintenance for modern wide-body aircraft inside one of the world’s largest single-span timber hangars.

A landmark hangar — engineered timber, big capability

Air New Zealand’s Hangar 4 is a 10,000 m² aircraft maintenance facility (part of a ~15,000 m² campus including workshops and support spaces) designed to accommodate one wide-body (e.g., Boeing 777/787) and two narrow-body aircraft simultaneously. The building is notable for its record-setting, single-span engineered timber arch (clear span ≈ 98 m) and ambitious sustainability targets (6-Star Green Star design intent).

Why the docking system matters

Modern maintenance hangars demand docking systems that are:

Adaptable to different aircraft (wheeled or jacked configurations),
Mobile and reconfigurable to support mixed fleets,
Safe for technicians working at height, and
Efficient to reduce turnaround and layover time.

NIJL’s wide-body wing and nose docks are modular, height-adjustable, and ground-mobile — enabling access from main landing gear to wing tip and dedicated nose access for radome, cockpit and forward-fuselage tasks. For Hangar 4, the system was tailored to Air New Zealand’s workflow and the unique spatial characteristics of the timber arch hangar.

NIJL’s solution for Hangar 4

NIJL delivered a combination of wide-body wing docks and a nose dock designed for modern wide-body types. Key features delivered for Hangar 4 include:

Modular platforms for wing upper/lower and tip access (scalable to different wide-body models),
Height adjustment to suit both on-wheels and jacked maintenance configurations,
Ground mobility for fast repositioning within the hangar bay,
Engineered railings and fall-protection systems to meet stringent safety protocols,
Layout coordination so the docks integrate with hangar services, pit locations and apron operations.

Documentation and procurement records confirm NIJL’s supply role for the docking system that will be used in Hangar 4.

Supporting Air New Zealand’s operational goals

Hangar 4 significantly expands Air New Zealand’s maintenance capacity and resilience — centralising capability and enabling simultaneous wide-body and narrow-body workstreams. NIJL’s tailored docking equipment aligns with that objective by enabling safer, faster access and more flexible scheduling of maintenance tasks. The dock’s modular approach helps future-proof the facility as aircraft types and maintenance regimes evolve.

Looking ahead

With Hangar 4 now part of Air New Zealand’s engineering base, NIJL is proud to have contributed docking equipment that supports operational efficiency, technician safety, and long-term flexibility. We’ll continue supporting Air New Zealand with maintenance access solutions, upgrades and lifecycle servicing as the hangar moves into full operation.