Airport returns dividend amid tourism unease
More than 2 million passengers a year arrive at Queenstown Airport and provide dividends to the community, but locals are also alarmed at its expansion plans.
Local businessman and richlister Sir Eion Edgar questioned the airport’s plan to extend noise boundaries, buy some homes, and spend millions of dollars on mitigation such as double glazing.
The airport’s latest $14.9 million profit delivered a dividend of $5.4m to the Queenstown Lakes District Council, which owns 75 per cent. The council’s dividend was equivalent to $215 for every rateable property.
However, Edgar said it was time the airport and council considered diverting more visitors to places like Wanaka or Lumsden.
Queenstown Airport chairwoman Prue Flacks said that in addition to the aircraft noise proposal, signing a 100-year lease for Wanaka Airport for $14.5m created a platform for growth across the region.
Aircraft coming into Queenstown would continue to operate between 6am and 10pm but there would be more of them to allow for an increase from 21,000 flights each year to 41,600 flights (equating to about 5.1 million passengers) a year by 2045.
The number of ultra-wealthy people flying into Queenstown in their own private jets was steady at 488, while helicopter flights were slightly ahead of 2017.
Queenstown Corporate Jet Services expanded its footprint by 60 per cent at its private jet passenger facility.
The number of airline passengers hit 2.14 million a year in the year ended in June 2018, up 13 per cent. Overseas visitor numbers were up 12 per cent to 596,276 and domestic passenger numbers up 14 per cent to 1.54 million.
Flacks said the airport company had invested more than $4m in infrastructure, safety and technology to streamline systems.
‘‘We enhanced the customer experience with the launch of the Park and Ride, new wayfinding signage, and expanded pop-up food and beverage offerings.’’
Other major projects included construction of an operations centre, terminal building improvements, and new equipment.
Revenue was ahead 17 per cent to $45.7m, while profit was up 24 per cent to $14.9m. Commercial revenue from property investments and concessions grew faster than aeronautical revenue.