Queenstown Airport is delighted to have been named Large Airport of the Year* at the 2025 New Zealand Airports Awards in Blenheim last night.

Chief executive Shane O'Hare, who took up the role on 16 September, said it was an honour to accept the award on behalf of the Queenstown Airport team.

“In my short time in the role, I have been impressed by the exceptional quality of the work being done and the calibre of the team.”

The award recognises exceptional performance right across the business.

"Major projects have been completed while the smooth operation of the airport continues," Mr O'Hare said. "This requires careful planning and collaboration across the Queenstown Airport team, and with the airport community, and this award gives us a welcome opportunity to celebrate our shared success."

A major highlight of the year was the successful installation of Australasia's first engineered materials arresting system (EMAS), setting a new benchmark for runway safety and resilience. Delivered within budget and ahead of schedule, this is a substantial investment in risk mitigation, protecting passengers, air crew, and the community from an aircraft overshooting the runway.

The judges also praised Queenstown Airport's wider operational excellence, from innovative commercial initiatives to its strong community engagement.

They specifically mentioned the Skippers eatery and bar, which was developed in response to passenger feedback, and has significantly elevated the customer experience in the international departures area.

Another highlight of the year was the launch of the ZQN Community Fund to make it easy to administer small one-off grants to charities doing valuable work in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts, ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed. The fund distributes $50,000 a year and complements the airport's long-standing partnerships programme contributing $150,000 a year.

“Together, these achievements demonstrate a team that consistently delivers world-class results in one of New Zealand's most complex operating environments,” the NZ Airports Association said.

Queenstown Airport is also proud to celebrate the Southern Way collaboration winning a Commercial Initiative of the Year Award. This recognition highlights the power of regional partnerships and cooperation, with the Queenstown, Dunedin and Invercargill airports working with eight regional tourism organisations to strengthen the lower South Island's aviation network and visitor economy. 

* There are three categories of airport membership within the New Zealand Airports Association and the annual awards are considered within each category:

  • Large Airports – recording more than 2 million passengers per year
  • Medium Airports – between 200,000 and 2 million passengers
  • Small airports – less than 200,000 passengers, including airports without regular scheduled passenger operations.