Qtown airport chief quits after five years

Queenstown Airport chief executive Colin Keel has resigned after five turbulent years.

During his time in the role the airport has lurched from massive growth issues to being completely shut down in the wake of Covid-19.

The news of his resignation came one day after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a travel bubble with Australia, and a surge of trans-Tasman flights announced for the airport.

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) board chairwoman Adrienne Young-Cooper said Keel planned to relocate to Auckland to pursue other opportunities, but he would continue until the end of the current financial year.

Keel had made a significant contribution to the business and its shareholders, she said.

‘‘He has been unfailing in his commitment to the success of QAC and the broader airport community as well as the place of Queenstown and Wa¯ naka airports in the region.’’

According to airport documents, Keel was paid a salary of between $570,000 and $580,000 in the financial year ended in June 2020, making him the highest paid chief executive of a public company in the region.

He took a 20 per cent pay cut in the post-Covid period.

It was a huge jump from the $360,000 to $370,000 he earned in the year ended in June 2017.

Keel has faced enormous pressure over that period, beginning with the announcement in 2018 of plans to dramatically increase the number of flights into Queenstown and Wa¯ naka. A public backlash followed that is still having almost monthly reverberations through the Queenstown Lakes District Council chambers.

The airport corporation is 75.01 per cent owned by the council, with the remainder owned by Auckland International Airport.

In Wa¯naka, a stakeholders’ group filed a judicial review in the

High Court to prevent Queenstown Airport Corporation taking over the site.

According to recent airport documents, the action has so far cost the corporation $450,000.

A decision has not yet been released. In the meantime, Christchurch Airport revealed controversial plans to build a new international airport in nearby Tarras.

Keel came under some criticism after instituting an organisational restructure following the impacts of Covid-19, cutting about 22 of its 68 permanent roles.

A six-monthly report showed that net profit to December had plunged 80 per cent to $2.2 million, compared with $10.8m in the previous year.

Passenger arrivals and departures fell 46 per cent and there were no international passenger or aircraft movements.

Keel’s partner – former Qantas Airways customer operations executive manager Ian Jackson – has also recently resigned from a short-term role in Queenstown as chief executive of Wayfare Group, which owns and operates the Real Journeys, Go Orange, International Antarctic Centre, and Cardrona and Treble Cone brands.

Keel said it had been a privilege leading the business over such a period of change.

‘‘The QAC team and all those who work at the airports are hardworking, dedicated members of the community and committed to its wellbeing. Despite the current challenges, the future is full of tremendous opportunities for the business, airports and region.’’

The board of directors will now begin a formal search process to select Keel’s successor.

“The future is full of tremendous opportunities for the business, airports and region.” Colin Keel