The Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has released its 10 year strategic plan saying it will retain all its land assets including 148.5 hectares of land surrounding Wānaka Airport.

The land, which QAC purchased before its 100-year lease of Wānaka Airport was set aside in 2021, is zoned rural and used for farming.

“We don’t have a plan [for the land] at this point in time,” QAC chief executive officer Glen Sowry said.

“We think the land has significant strategic value given its location and who knows what its potential use could be.”

In an exclusive interview with the Wānaka App Glen indicated that the land could be used for renewable energy, saying the potential to house solar is a good example.

‘It is an ideally located site should there be community support for that in the future,” he said.

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Details of strategic plan

A key focus of the strategic plan is to improve the traveller journey, including transportation links to Queenstown Airport and the experience at the terminal.

“The existing bus arrangements are not particularly attractive to travellers so we need to look at how we are going to enable, facilitate and support public transport,” Glen said. 

“We plan to redesign the check-in and bag claim areas, especially for oversized baggage of which we have a lot, and building a terminal more reflective of the destination to complement the wow moment when you hop off the plane. 

“It [the terminal] needs to reflect and showcase the region.”

Passenger numbers are forecast to rise to 1.6M people (3.2M passenger movements) by 2032 up from 1.15M in 2019 and Glen said the strategic plan reflects this “moderate and sustainable growth”.

Passenger movement projections for Queenstown Airport

“We have carefully considered the insights gathered through our engagement over the last year and sought to achieve the right balance between economic and social benefits to the region alongside environmental priorities,” he said.

Glen said the airport will be carbon neutral next year by offsetting emissions with carbon credits, and he is aiming for net zero emissions by 2040.

“For the airport this is doable; employing solar, electrifying the vehicle fleet, and running our own composting facility,” he said.

Glen said the strategic plan acknowledges that airline operations are the primary source of emissions with proposed investment to ensure the airport can support and enable alternative powered aircraft.

“We are looking at what infrastructure is required to support electric aircraft operations,” he said.

QAC board chair Adrienne Young-Cooper said Queenstown Airport is well positioned to support the recovery of the local economy.

QAC board chair Adrienne Young-Cooper

“As we move into recovery, it’s timely to think deeply about the future of aviation, the associated challenges and opportunities and plan for an airport that is future-ready and continues to contribute to the social and economic wellbeing of the district over the long-term,” she said.

QAC will now begin consultation on a draft Master Plan for Queenstown Airport.

QAC is a council controlled organisation owned by QLDC (75.01 percent) and Auckland International Airport Limited (24.99 percent).

PHOTOS: Supplied