Mr Keel was speaking at Queenstown Lakes District Council's hearing on the Wanaka Airport governance options in Wanaka yesterday.
The council's preferred option for the management of the airport is to enter into a long-term lease and management agreement with the QAC, which already provides management services and expertise.
Other options included selling the airport to QAC, continuing the current management agreement or leasing the airport to the QAC as part of a district-wide aviation service.
More than 80 submissions were made on the proposal and almost 30 people spoke at the hearing yesterday.
Mr Keel said the corporation did not shy away from being a commercially focused organisation but understood the history and importance of the airport to the Upper Clutha.
Wanaka would not be used as a dumping ground for services not wanted at Queenstown Airport.
A passenger service run by Air New Zealand subsidiary Eagle Airways between Christchurch and Wanaka was discontinued in 2013 because it was not commercially viable.
Mr Keel said it was possible, under the right conditions, commercial flights could return to Wanaka after councillor Ella Lawton asked him about the potential of commercial passenger flights returning.
Private and recreational airport users voiced their concerns about being squeezed out of the airport if there was greater focus on commercial operations.
Wanaka Airport Users Group chairman Bill Day said there was a fear among some users, particularly recreational users, they would be priced out of the airport.
Hundreds of hours of volunteer work had been put into the airport by those users and that social investment needed to be protected.
Existing hangar and lease owner Greg Doran said he was concerned general aviation was not mentioned in the QAC's submission on the proposal.
The experience of the Wakatipu Aero Club, whose lease was not renewed at Queenstown Airport, showed the QAC did not understand general aviation.
Aviation-related businesses relocating to Cromwell and Alexandra airports was also raised as a possibility if fees at Wanaka were increased.
Other submitters included the Wanaka Chamber of Commerce, Warbirds over Wanaka and the Centre of Unique Business Evolution (CUBE Wanaka).
