Hello BHP11,
Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing with importing photos from your iPad Air.
First, if the AutoPlay dialog box does not open, the following article suggests to check your settings:
Import photos in Windows Vista or Windows 7
Import photos or video from your device to your PC:
Connect your iOS device to your computer. If the AutoPlay window appears, click "Import Pictures and Videos using Windows," then skip to step 4. If the "Import Pictures and Video" dialog appears, skip to step 4.
If the AutoPlay dialog doesn't appear, you might need to check your settings.
iOS: Import personal photos and videos from iOS devices to your computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4083
If you are still not able to import photos, I recommend continuing with the following article:
iOS: Unable to import photos to computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3195
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.