The runway expansion and car parking infrastructure works were a critical part of the airport’s short-term and long-term growth plans.
"It’s been a big year at Queenstown Airport in many ways. At the beginning of the year, we committed to a number of initiatives to better understand and provide short-term solutions for the increased demand on car parking at the airport.
"We’ve completed the tasks we set ourselves and have already taken action by adding an additional 50 car-parking spaces for summer."
Research had been conducted on users of State Highway 6 for parking. The airport had also been active on an airport park and ride trial, which would offer an affordable, long-term parking solution, he said.
The airport had achieved a lot in a short space of time and that would continue into next year.
Work would be carried out to improve vehicle flow at the airport entrance, along with the establishment of a new roundabout, addition of 55 car parks to the staff car park, relocation of the coach parks to Chris Read Green and the addition of a dual lane to part of the access road.
Ultimately, those works would enable the airport to reinstate the public drop-off lane directly outside the terminal, something which was known to be of great importance to visitors, Mr Keel said.
"We’ve listened to the community and delivered improvements. The works completed to date have been an essential part of the plan to improve the flow for all visitors."
Once stage four was complete in June next year, the airport would alleviate more of the issues its visitors had experienced during such a period of high growth, he said.
To ensure things ran smoothly over the busy holiday period, the airport would carry out no major construction works between yesterday and January 15.
"We’ll continue to engage with the communities we serve as we manage periods of planned growth. We’re committed to providing an exceptional and memorable customer experience for all our visitors."
Highlights
• Runway and lighting infrastructure upgrade to enable after-dark flights, cost $19million.
• The new-look runway is 45m wide, 1.9km long and took 100 nights of work and 90 days of work, representing a cumulative total of 25,000 people hours for the contract.
• Six new eGates introduced at international customs in May, increasing processing rates from 350 passengers an hour to 1000.
• First domestic and international after-dark flights arrived at Queenstown Airport, expanding the flying use of the airport from 6am to 10pm.
