Queenstown Airport is celebrating its 90th birthday as one of New Zealand’s oldest commercial airports still operating on its original site.

The airport - now an international gateway welcoming more than 2.6M passengers each year - has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

The 1930s were a golden era for aviation and the people of the Whakatipu Basin were excited by the possibility of connecting with the rest of New Zealand and other parts of the world more easily.

They identified the disused Frankton racecourse as the perfect location for an official aerodrome and began lobbying politicians and officials to make this happen. 

The land on which Queenstown Airport was established was used as a racecourse from 1863 until about 1920 and the first hangar was built alongside the stone grandstand. PHOTO: QAC

A landing ground licence was granted in August 1935 and contractors were hired to level a grass airstrip - the beginnings of Queenstown Airport.

“It is important to recognise milestones of this magnitude and to look back with gratitude for the foresight of those who laid the foundation for what we enjoy today,” QAC chair Simon Flood said. 

“It is also an opportunity to take stock of our direction of travel to ensure Queenstown Airport remains a place our community takes pride in and our passengers love to travel through.

“Airports are important places, and we are proud of our long history and the deep connection we share with our community.”

Queenstown Airport’s first terminal was a humble building, constructed after the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd began flying 32-seat DC-3s between Christchurch and Queenstown in 1964. PHOTO: QAC

Simon said Queenstown Airport was built with entrepreneurial spirit and it remains a vital enabler of social and economic wellbeing.

“We are carefully managing its growth to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the people and businesses of the Southern Lakes region for decades to come.”

Queenstown Airport chief operating officer Todd Grace said it was a privilege to be responsible for developing infrastructure for the next generation.

By the end of the 1960s, the main runway had been sealed and a flight services station established, enabling Hawker-Siddeley 748 flights. PHOTO: Archives New Zealand R24767905

“The next phase of our journey is really exciting for our team,” he said. “We’re at the very beginning of a substantial programme of investment to enhance safety, resilience, sustainability, and customer experience.”

“We’re grateful to everyone who has been part of our story so far, and we’re committed to ensuring Queenstown Airport is fit for the future, while retaining what makes it special.”