Five consecutive years of double-digit growth means Queenstown Airport will continue to expand and upgrade its facilities, with a multi-million dollar spend in the next few years, chief executive Steve Sanderson says.
The Queenstown Airport Corporation's (QAC) latest annual report identifies more than $20 million to be spent as the Frankton-based airport moves to cope with a predicted big increase in passenger numbers.
Next year, the airport expects to handle more than one million passengers, which, Mr Sanderson says, means the main terminal building opened just three years ago is already too small.
That building was designed to cater for about 700,000 passengers a year, comprising a mix of 95% domestic and 5% international.
But now the projections show the mix will change significantly, with international numbers rising to 22%.
"We do have an accelerated programme of capital projects, which has been stimulated by growth," he said yesterday.
Work on extending the baggage area, a $4 million project, has already begun and the airport plans to extend the international arrivals hall in the next year.
Mr Sanderson said that was still at the planning stage and no cost figures were yet available.
Other projects on the QAC's "to-do list" include completing the $10 million resa (runway end safety area) extensions, building a new heavy taxiway and spending $5 million on insulation of houses affected by proposed changes to the noise boundaries.
A runway overlay project, worth $5 million, has also been completed.
In his report to Friday's annual meeting of QAC, Mr Sanderson also said QAC hoped to start installing some runway lights this summer, paid for by the Airways Corporation after a tendered process.
Queenstown is the only substantial airport in New Zealand without runway lights.
Their introduction would make a "significant contribution" to passenger safety and further enhance schedule reliability.
The QAC is working towards the introduction of night flights and Mr Sanderson said yesterday he was hopeful this would happen within the next six to 12 months.
"Overall, the airlines support the introduction of lights to improve operations and Jetstar has made a commitment to work towards introducing flights after dark," he said.
Mr Sanderson says he understands Queenstown Airport is the fastest-growing in Australia and New Zealand.
It is now no longer classified as a regional airport but has achieved "specific airport company" status under the Airport Authorities Act, which is based on revenues.
It is the first airport outside of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to reach this level and is now required to to make extensive additional disclosures.
