Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) will pay a $7.22 million interim dividend following a strong start to the 2025/26 financial year, with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) set to receive $5.42M as the majority shareholder.

In its interim report for the six months to December 31, 2025, QAC highlighted robust passenger numbers and aircraft movements as key drivers of performance. 

Revenue for the period was $43.6M (+ eight percent), with EBITDA of $31.2M (+ six percent) and a net profit after tax of $16.8M (+ four percent). 

Scheduled aircraft movements rose three percent, while passenger numbers increased nine percent to 1,458,538.

The interim dividend represents a modest increase on the last interim payout. 

“The rise in international passengers is particularly notable,” QAC chair Simon 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.”

QAC chief executive Shane O’Hare 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,” he said. 

“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 airport corporation is 75.01 percent owned by QLDC with Auckland Airport holding the balance of the shares.

Read the full report here.

PHOTO: Supplied