Queenstown Airport's profits are soaring following strong passenger growth.
Unaudited net profit after tax for the six months to December 31 climbed 31% to $6.2million, up from $4.7million in 2014's second half.
The company has paid an interim dividend of $1million to shareholders the Queenstown Lakes District Council (75%) and Auckland Airport (25%).
Queenstown Airport Corporation chairman John Gilks said the result was underpinned by sustained growth in domestic and international passengers.
Revenue increased 19% to $15.7million, driven by new retail offerings and increased spending per passenger.
Increased capacity and full aircraft had helped the airport set new records, including passing the 1.5million passenger mark in a 12-month stretch for the first time.
In the second half of last year passenger numbers grew 15% to 830,000.
International passengers were up 20% at 265,000 and domestic passengers rose 13% to 565,000.
Mr Gilks said the company continued to invest heavily in infrastructure.
It opened a $17million international terminal last July, and work was under way on an $18million upgrade of the airport's runway and lighting.
The airport also set another monthly passenger record, when 163,783 people flew in or out last month, an increase of 19.1% on January last year.
That was 4% above the 156,636 passenger movements in December, itself a record.
