After an Australasian-wide wide recruitment process, Daniel Debono has been announced as the airport’s new operations manager and will join the airport team early in 2018.
Mr Debono is the infrastructure and service delivery general manager at Dunedin Airport and has also worked at Queenstown and Wellington airports.
He will work alongside other employees at the airport as
the way it is managed changes.
Earlier this year Queenstown Lakes District councillors voted to allow the Queenstown Airport Corporation to take on a long-term lease of the airport.
Previously the QAC has managed the airport but a long-term lease would give the corporation an incentive to invest in the future of the airport to meet the expected growth in the district’s aviation sector.
Details of the lease are still being finalised.
Because of his background in general aviation, which included completing a private pilot’s license in 2003, Mr Debono said he understood and respected the connection between all parts of the aviation system.
"The future of Wanaka Airport is exciting and full of potential and I’m looking forward to becoming part of the Wanaka community, reconnecting with old friends and aviation industry peers."
Mr Debono will leave his job at Dunedin Airport in December and start work at Wanaka Airport in early January.
