Queenstown Airport celebrates expansion and a bumper year.
- December 15, 2016
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Queenstown Airport is celebrating a bumper year with record number increase in passenger numbers and key infrastructure investments. With runway lighting and upgrades, Queenstown Airport commenced after-dark flights in May this year and saw it’s community grow from 350 to 500 people. After-dark flights also aided in increase in passenger numbers across all months with a record all-time high in August of 1.7 Million passengers YTD.
In addition to the runway expansion and lighting, Queenstown Airport also added six new gates and 50 new car parks increasing the parking capacity by 10% to cater to the increase in car parking demand over the busy months.
Passenger growth for Queenstown Airport in the last three years increased by 38% with anticipated increase of another 33% by 2019, crossing the 2 Million passenger record. Earlier, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia announced their plan to introduce an evening ski shuttle service between Australia and Queenstown in time for next winter.
Subject to regulatory approval, Virgin Australia will operate evening services from Queenstown to Brisbane on Friday and Sunday from 23 June 2017 while Air New Zealand will operate services from Queenstown to Sydney on Saturday and Sunday from 1 July 2017. This means a total of 38 return services each week between Australia and Queenstown during the 2017 ski season. Both airlines have added additional flights to their schedules and moved some flights to the evening, so visitors can maximise their stay. This equates to a combined extra capacity of more than 5,500 seats across the four weeks.
The additional services will continue to maximise Queenstown Airport’s current consented operating hours (6am-10pm) and reduce peak-time pressure on facilities and services which have been experiencing sustained growth in passenger and traffic volumes.
For more information on evening flights www.queenstownairport.co.nz/
