Queenstown Airport looks ahead to 2037

May 09

Queenstown Airport looks ahead to 2037

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has extended its 2023 Master Plan through
to 2037 after substantial growth outstripped the original plan. New forecasts for
Queenstown Airport show scheduled passengers and non-scheduled passengers
such as helicopter sightseers will quadruple over the next 30 years. The Master Plan
was last published in 2003.

QAC Chairman Mark Taylor says a thorough assessment of the existing Plan took
into account updated aircraft movement forecasts, airport noise planning, Terminal
Building, aviation security and associated car parking and services, helicopter,
general aviation and corporate & private jets and land use.

“The review was vital in light of the changing aviation industry, historic and projected
growth for Queenstown Airport over the next 30 years,” says Mr Taylor.

Scheduled aircraft movements are forecast to grow from 8,350 this year to over
21,000 in 2037, while passenger numbers currently at 700,640 are expected to top
2,348,139 in the same period. Increased non-scheduled passenger movements will
quadruple from 142,418 to 560,650, which includes growth in helicopter flights from
19,312 to 35,400.

“The result of the review was a comprehensive expansion plan that caters for the
different requirements of each sector and delivers a Terminal Building that allows
smoother flows for passengers from the curb to boarding the aircraft,” says Mr
Taylor.

He says studies also undertaken clearly show the south-east of the Airport, rather
than the nort-east, is the preferred site for expansion.

“Land to the north east of the Airport was previously earmarked for the relocation of
general aviation and helicopter operations, however, operational issues and logistics
weighed heavily against this option.

“It was also vital to take into consideration the weather that would affect any southfacing
hangars, safety concerns around the close proximity of helicopter operators
and the need logistically to have private jets, general aviation and helicopters
accessible from the main Terminal via internal roads.”

Other issues factored into the equation included possible conflicts between
helicopter movements and fixed wing operations on the main runway and the
proximity of proposed hangars and subsequent noise exposure to the main runway.
QAC CEO Steve Sanderson says “When all the reviews were in, the land to the
south-east of the Airport was considered the preferred location to accommodate
general aviation, helicopters, and corporate & private jets within the Airport’s revised
Master Plan,”
QAC does not own all the land it requires to the south-east and is in discussions with
the owners of the land, Remarkables Park Limited, for the required 22 ha.

QAC’s updated Master Plan takes advantage of the current Terminal Building, which
was designed to be extended at both ends, by including additional baggage handling
facilities and extensions to accommodate more aircraft stands, car parking and
associated services such as rental cars, valet and other forms of transport.

Ongoing security improvements that may, in the future, include screening for all
passengers on scheduled flights were also considered.

The new integrated Airport design includes general aviation and helicopter hangars,
a common Terminal, fixed base operations for corporate & private jets, fuel and
service facilities, access to proposed taxiways, and main and cross wind runways.
There will also be internal roadways and a fire station.

“The updated Master Plan doesn’t mean the airport is planning new facilities in the
short term. The Master Plan process is a long term planning framework to grow
against as market conditions demand,” says Sanderson.
Taylor says this Master Planning process was vital under the Airport’s mandate to
the community.

“Our mission statement is to provide an airport and related facilities to serve the
growing needs of the community of the Lakes District. This meant looking to the
future to create a facility of the highest possible standards to meet those needs.”

Attachments

View PDF of schematics that detail the proposed development area.