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Dunedin Airport. Photo by ODT.
Dunedin Airport. Photo: ODT.
The South's three commercial airports - Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown - have signed a memorandum of understanding to ''foster a collaborative working relationship''.
They say it is a first of its kind in New Zealand.

In a statement this morning, Queenstown Airport Corporation chief executive, Colin Keel said the airport companies will ''work together to identify and explore opportunities and undertake joint initiatives''.

''Over the past two years the airport leaders have been discussing opportunities to work together in a number of areas including health and safety, environmental sustainability, operational excellence and supporting strategic regional tourism initiatives.

''Entering into this cooperative arrangement formalises our shared commitment to work collaboratively.''

Dunedin Airport chief executive, Richard Roberts said the airports had ''much to gain by working together'', and  Invercargill Airport general manager Nigel Finnerty said working  collaboratively would ''help open up more of our place to more people.

''The opportunity to work with the other southern airports on health and safety, operational excellence and environmental sustainability will support connectivity and growth across the entire region,'' he said.

In July, Mr Keel told the Otago Daily Times for the past two years the airports had been ''working more closely ... across a range of areas including health and safety, operations, sustainability and supporting strategic regional tourism initiatives''.

The Otago Daily Times has asked the QAC to explain what difference the memorandum of understanding will make to that existing arrangement. 

Comments

Positive, but the reality is that
- the upper North islands 2.5 million people have one international airport.
- the lower North island has one for one million people.
- the upper South island has one international airport for 3/4 million people

- and the south wants 4 for 330,000 people.