The number of passengers who moved through Queenstown Airport in 2007-08 was matched in just three months this year.
The airport corporation released its passenger statistics on Friday for the quarter July to September.
International passengers (65,245) were up 31% and domestic passengers (199,365) up 18%, compared to the same period last year.
Queenstown Airport Corporation chief executive Steve Sanderson said 264,610 passengers moved through the terminal in the three months ending September 30.
"The winter months attracted yet again year-on-year visitor increases through our airport and they continue to grow at a double digit rate."
The latest quarterly increase in international passengers was helped by an increase of 28% in international flights from Australia.
Mr Sanderson said this represented an increase in seat capacity of 32% or a total of 77,580 seats.
The average international seat loadings were 84%.
"It was only 2007-08 when 62,000 international passengers was our total for the year and here we are, three years later, with almost the same number in our first three months."
