The airport released its 2025 annual report this week, showing total revenue of $79.99m, profit of $29.9m and a total annual dividend to shareholders of $18.8m.
Queenstown’s council holds 74.99% of the airport shares, equating to a $14.1m dividend — the balance will go to minority shareholder, Auckland International Airport Ltd.
A $7m interim dividend was paid to shareholders in February; the remainder will be distributed this month.
Locally, the dividend represents $440 per district-wide ratepayer.
Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers said the council had a policy any airport dividend was used to pay down debt.
"It’s a nice, clean easy transfer of money and it certainly helps us out.
"We want to keep under our debt cap and in growing communities, such as the Queenstown Lakes, it’s pretty hard when you have to forward-fund infrastructure ... and are obliged to do because of growth requirements from the government."
Airport board chairman Simon Flood said as a council-controlled organisation, they were proud of the contribution they made to the region.
"When our terminal is humming, other local businesses are also doing well."
Total passenger movements during the reporting period totalled 2,601,833, with 18,865 scheduled aircraft movements.
Beyond financial returns, the airport launched a $50,000 community fund, open to charitable organisations in Queenstown Central Lakes — combined with existing partnerships and sponsorships, its total annual community contribution exceeds $200,000.
Mr Flood said among the year’s major milestones was the installation of Queenstown Airport’s engineered materials arresting system — the first in Australasia — and the start of its first terminal extension since 2015.
That would add 800sqm of new office and operational space for Air New Zealand, Planebiz and the Aviation Security Service, while major electrical upgrades and seismic strengthening was also under way.
The airport had also joined the global Airport Carbon Accreditation programme at Level 4+ ‘Transition’ and is targeting Level 5, the highest tier.
Interim chief executive Todd Grace said the airport was at the "very beginning" of a huge programme of investment to enhance safety, resilience, sustainability and customer service.
