International Passengers up 23% for 2009 Winter

October 09

Passenger Statistics Q1 - July to September 2009

Queenstown Airport saw 218,434 passengers move through its airport for the 3
month period ending September 2009. Queenstown Airport chief executive
Steve Sanderson said “The passenger numbers through the airport are up
overall by 9% for the same period last year, with international passengers up
23%. The continued up take of seats on direct flights from Australia
demonstrates the attractiveness of the winter package Queenstown has to
offer”.

Compared to the same 3 month period last year, international passengers grew
to 49,889, up 23% supported by an increase of 15% in international flights from
the east coast of Australia. Sanderson said “The increase in direct flights from
Australia has lifted the number of seats and this is supported by an average
loading of passengers at 85%, up 4 percentage points, simply a fantatastic
outcome”.

Domestic passengers were also up for the same period over last year to
168,545, a 5% increase. The number of flights were slightly down by 2%,
however, average passenger loadings were at 81% up 6 percentage points.
Sanderson said, “It was very pleasing after a tough economic year to see
domestic return to growth and healthy loadings”.