Queenstown airport pays $7.22 million dividend

From Queenstown Airport.

Queenstown Airport is to pay its shareholders a $7.22 million interim dividend after a good start to the financial year.

Releasing the Interim Report for the six months to 31 December 2025, Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) Chair Simon Flood commented that the appeal of the Southern Lakes region continues and the airport has been the beneficiary of strong passenger numbers, which underpinned the airport company’s performance and outlook.

Scheduled aircraft movements during the reporting period were up 3% and passenger numbers were up 9%, due to high loads during the reporting period.

“The rise in international passengers is particularly notable,” Mr Flood said. “Queenstown and the wider Southern Lakes region have a strong appeal to those in Australia and beyond, and we have benefitted from that trend, which has been enabled by our airline partners increasing capacity on trans-Tasman routes.”

Mr Flood said the board and QAC's management team recognised that Queenstown Airport was a critical infrastructure asset for both the Southern Lakes region and the country as a whole, playing, as it does, a key role in supporting New Zealand's tourism sector.
 
“We have a significant investment and development programme under way to ensure the airport can continue to serve the region and country well." 

“The board is also mindful of its obligations to shareholders and the community, including maintaining strong dividend payments. In this context, the board is pleased to declare an interim dividend of $7.22 million. As the majority shareholder, with a 75.01% stake in QAC, the Queenstown Lakes District Council will receive $5.42 million of this.”

SNAPSHOT
•    Interim dividend of $7,222,080 (75.01% to QLDC and 24.99% to Auckland International Airport Ltd)
•    Revenue of $43.6 million
•    Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $31.2 million
•    Net profit after tax (NPAT) of $16.8 million
•    Scheduled aircraft movements totalled 10,096
•    Passenger movements totalled 1,458,538
•    No lost-time injuries to employees or contractors
•    90th birthday celebrated in August
•    NZ Airports’ Large Airport of the Year Award

Chief Executive Shane O’Hare, who joined the company in September, highlighted the importance of the major investment in infrastructure mapped out in the Queenstown Airport Master Plan.

“Our capital works programme is gaining considerable momentum, with several major projects well under way and others to start soon. We are working closely with our customers and other key stakeholders to ensure the decisions we make now meet their needs far into the future and elevate the traveller experience.”

The bathroom facilities in the domestic departures lounge have been upgraded in response to customer feedback. There are now separate male and female toilet blocks, unisex accessible toilets, and a parenting room for families.

The first phase of a complex project to create additional office and operational space for airline staff has been completed. Work included the construction of a new airfield ground lighting centre and main electrical switch room, along with installation of a 1.5 MVA transformer and high-voltage cabling to support increasing electrification. Contractors are now extending the terminal north to deliver 800m² of additional back of house space.

Seismic strengthening of the terminal is nearing completion, with contractors working in the domestic departures lounge. This entire project is being done at night to minimise disruption to airport operations.

The next major project is the construction of a two storey office building beside Lucas Place. This will be shared by QAC staff, Police, the Aviation Security Service and the Ministry for Primary Industries, and will incorporate an integrated operations centre. Building is expected to begin later this year.

Meanwhile, leading architectural firms Warren & Mahoney and Hassell have been appointed to help develop a concept design for significant extensions and improvements to the terminal.
Mr O’Hare said this would be the largest programme of works in the Master Plan.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to create a world-class experience worthy of our iconic location.”

Planning for a new parallel taxiway and upgrades to check in and baggage-handling facilities is also well advanced.