Wānaka Airport contributes significantly to the local and regional economies. Queenstown Airport is approximately an hours' drive away offering direct trans-Tasman and daily domestic flights.
Governance
Wānaka Airport is owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) manages Wānaka Airport’s day-to-day operations on behalf of QLDC under a management services agreement.
Wānaka Airport Liaison Committee
The formation of the Wānaka Airport Liaison Committee (WALC) is a requirement of conditions 10 and 11 of the Designation 64 of the QLDC District Plan. In its capacity as the Requiring Authority, QLDC appointed Rob Phillips to the position of Chair. All other appointments will be made directly by membership entities.
Learn more about the appointment here.
Review the Wānaka Airport Liaison Committee agendas and minutes here.
An overview of our operations:
- Flightseeing to Milford and Mount Cook and surrounding areas
- Scheduled domestic return service to/ from Christchurch with Sounds Air
- A large and growing number of helicopters offering training and charter
- Pilot training on Cessna and various aircraft types
- Tandem skydiving flights and parachuting using a custom-designed turbine aircraft
- Private sport and recreation and general aviation
- Agricultural companies with topdressing operations based out of Wānaka Airport
- Charter operations, particularly ski tours
- Regular military visits
- Adventure flying in military aircraft
