Queenstown Airport Corporation Traffic 6 Months End 31 December 2008

January 09

Queenstown Airport saw 364,408 passengers move through its airport for the half year ending December 2008. Queenstown Airport Corporation chief executive Steve Sanderson said: “The passenger numbers through the airport have held ‘par’ against last year. Considering the economic down turn this is a very pleasing outcome.”

International passengers grew to 51,675, an 18.6% increase compared with the same period last year, supported by a 21% lift in international flights from the east coast of Australia. “The direct flights from Australia continue to be popular in both the winter and summer seasons,” says Steve Sanderson. “The trend shows Queenstown is a popular short-haul end destination, as people look closer to home for holidays in the current economic environment.”

Domestic passengers were slightly down on the same period last year to 312,733, a 2.7% decrease. While there was a 3.7% increase in flights this was due to the use of more ATRs compared with the previous 12 months.