ZQN news ISSUE 43 / JULY 2019

It’s great to see that the snow improved international passenger flow. dances have worked, with some We’re also underway with other initiatives fresh snow in the region and including the installation of self-service Passenger all five ski fields now open for check-in kiosks with our airline partners, business after a slower start which will streamline the check-in process numbers using global technology solutions to improve Passenger numbers for April than normal. By all accounts, the customer experience. Read more about compared to the same period last year the snow’s pretty good and our BASM and the check-in kiosks on pages 3 school holiday visitors have and 7. had a blast enjoying the warm Total For our next newsletter we’ll be having passengers Southern Lakes hospitality. a ‘Spring re-fresh’. Telling the stories and +6% achievements of those who work in and As part of our sustainability framework to around Queenstown and airports is support and promote community events an important part of both airports’ DNA. So across the region, we’re looking forward Domestic we’ll be telling more stories, in more ways passengers to being a part of NZ Pride Week and the +3% throughout the year. From September, we’ll NZ Winter Games, which come hot on be re-vamping the ZQN News to combine the heels of LUMA (did you check-out the the news and stories from Queenstown and amazing installation in the forecourt?) Wanaka airports with a new newsletter name and the Real Journeys Queenstown Winter International and a move to quarterly issues. Watch this passengers Festival, which saw host +17% space. our winter ambassadors for the first year. Greeting visitors with a friendly smile and It almost goes without saying at this time helpful advice on the festival events, they of year, but with an increase in potential Passenger numbers for May helped make people’s arrival a memorable hazards on our roads and ever-changing compared to the same period last year experience. conditions, please stay safe during the remaining winter months as you travel We’ve also committed to the Pride Pledge around the region. ZQN is yet to issue a Total for the next three years, which underpins our “Snowtam” for the 2019 winter (clearing +8% passengers one team value to embrace and encourage of snow on the ), so we’re confident diversity within the QAC team and the there’s plenty more snow on the way. communities we serve. Queenstown Airport Take care and enjoy the winter activities will also be decked out in rainbow colours in Domestic support of the event (see page two for more across our region over the coming months. +5% passengers details). We’ve made great progress on some of the key projects underway as part of Queenstown Airport’s Project Pathway initiative. The $2.5 International passengers million investment in the Border Agency +5% Space Management project (BASM) is now complete, providing an expanded space and facilities for the border agencies and View all airport stats at queenstownairport.co.nz/stats Colin Keel Chief Executive An update from Queenstown Airport

Flightseeing company Glenorchy Air has a new owner. Janet Rutherford, who founded and ran the company with her late husband, Robert, for more than 25 years, has sold the business to its senior pilot, James Stokes. James is an experienced pilot who’s been flying for the company since 2015. Employing 11 staff, the company celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017 and operates five aircraft for scenic flights, charters and tours throughout the lower half of the , including its staple business. Congratulations James!

New GA fuel Roll-Out the tanks Rainbow

The two new fuel tanks have now been Queenstown Airport will brought on line, providing 100,000 ‘Roll-Out the Rainbow’ during litres of fuel (50,000 Avgas and 50,000 Winter Pride week, for the Jetfuel) to the Queenstown Airport General Aviation community. next three years, as part of our commitment to The Pride These replace the old underground tanks Pledge supporting inclusion and which have now been emptied and will be removed in the spring. diversity. To take part in the To kick-off the campaign, we’ll be proudly Pride Pledge visit displaying the rainbow throughout the airport to celebrate NZ Winter Pride week, held pridepledge.co.nz August 30 to 8 September. Speaking of the and look out for the Rescue pledge, Colin Keel, said “For many visitors, our airport will be the first touch-point with rainbow throughout Queenstown and the ‘Roll-Out the Rainbow’ Recruits initiative gives us the opportunity to provide the terminal during a warm and safe welcome to the Southern Pride week. Our Rescue Fire team continues to go Lakes region, and to highlight the diversity from strength-to-strength with the and inclusivity of our airport and wider arrival of three new recruits to boost the community.” team. The QAC team will also take part in the Lewis Jackson, Anton Malan and Rob second of the company’s ‘Lunch N Learn’ Cowles have recently joined the crew events this month, talking about embracing and have been on-site training at the a culture of diversity, hosted by NZ Winter airport over the last 5 weeks, before Pride’s Martin King. The lunch aims to they head to Airport for empower the QAC team with skills and the next 12 weeks of comprehensive knowledge on this important topic. training.

ZQN news JULY 2019 SAFETY ! MATTERS

As part of our commitment to safety, Airport Terminal Manager Daniel we’ll soon be installing ice detection Dodd said the designed pavement markers that alert people and built product ICEye would be when the temperature reaches 0°C another tool in the team’s winter (32°F), providing a warning of the toolbox to help enhance situational possibility of ice forming in public awareness around the airport. areas. Once 0°C is reached, the ICEye “People should always be ice aware device flashes blue LED, acting as during the winter months and this is a warning for passengers and staff just another way we can help raise of the possible presence of ice or awareness of hazards and protect slippery conditions. against potential slips, falls and Having a visual warning not only personal injury to staff, customers, raises awareness of potential ice and visitors, and contractors,” he said. hazardous conditions, but it also acts The markers are visible from 500 as a cue for staff to mobilise and metres and are solar powered implement ice removal/reduction with durable low temperature procedures. Markers will shortly batteries, providing over 240 hours be installed on airport walkways of continuous operation from a full landside, in the car parks, forecourt charge. and airside walkways.

Serve and protect

It’s great to see the re-vamped Border Agencies’ area completed, with more space and better passenger flow ensuring a friendly and warm welcome for passengers arriving into Queenstown Airport and space for the teams who pledge to serve and protect our borders. The $2.5 million project was completed in five stages over nine months and even the dogs have a brand spanking new area to call home. A huge thanks to the local agency teams and passengers for their patience during the upgrade. Welcome to the team

Welcoming Sara to the team, Colin Keel said he was delighted to welcome Sara. “She brings a breadth of skills and a depth of experience across a range of sectors that will add value to our work at this important point in planning our future direction.”

We asked Sara some “Get to know you questions”.

1. My favourite NZ getaway is 2. If I could fly anywhere right now, I’d fly to 3. My desert island disc is 4. If I were deserted on top of the Remarkables for 48 hours, I’d like to be stranded with

We recently welcomed Sara Network based in Australia. Prior to that, Sara 1. I always loved coming to Queenstown and Wanaka and Irvine to QAC’s senior leadership was general manager of public affairs for Outcomes Australia and managing director of now I’m lucky enough to live team as General Manager here. SAZCOM, a communications and engagement Corporate and Community consultancy firm. 2. Paris Affairs. Sara is responsible for corporate and 3. The Beatles, “The White Sara has extensive experience in community affairs, including internal and Album” communications and corporate affairs, external communications, stakeholder 4. My husband and kids (and my with a strong community focus. She was engagement, government relations, skis) most recently director of communications regulatory matters and the sustainability and operations for First Peoples Disability programme.

Jessica Watson has joined us as Jessica is an accomplished global We asked Jessica some Commercial Manager working commercial property professional, “Get to know you passionate service provider and customer with General Manager Olivia relationship manager. She has worked questions”. Pierre and the Commercial and for and with some of the world’s most Customer Experience team of recognized brands such as Macquarie 1. My favourite NZ getaway is Kylie Sutherland and Natalie Bank, CBRE, JLL and Amazon. Jessica’s 2. If I could fly anywhere right Scott. experience is extensive, ranging from now, I’d fly to developing real estate strategies centered 3. My desert island disc is around people and performance, managing commercial and property portfolios and 4. If I were deserted on top of the project managing the development of new Remarkables for 48 hours, I’d like to be stranded with commercial building sites. Jessica and her family relocated from 1. Waiheke Island Manly, for this exciting role, moving 2. Sabi Sand, South Africa closer to both their families who reside in 3. Queen Queenstown and Wanaka. Jess is already getting out and about at both airports, 4. Bear Grylls (for survival), Bill enjoying meeting stakeholders and gaining Gates (so people will actually look for us) and Lola (my a good understanding of the world of Maremma Sheepdog for the aviation and the various pieces that make- love, protection and to keep up the airport puzzle. me warm).

ZQN news JULY 2019 House of Bee kind to NZ Hygiene - A swarm of bees is pollinating Printed and installed by Queenstown’s Print international passengers’ Central, the bee-themed work includes views One team imaginations with dreams of a of the Remarkables, native trees and plants including lancewood and mountain daisies The renewal of the airport summer holiday in the Southern and the friendly swarm guiding visitors terminal cleaning contract Lakes district as they head home through the door. As a way of getting people in May provided the catalyst through the airport this winter. to think about our environment as part of our support of the Tiaki Promise to protect New for change in the way we The specially-commissioned artwork, by local Zealand for future generations, the mural operate our contracts under the illustrator and artist Emma Timms, has been tells the story of the role bees play in our supersized from a 2m x 700cm painting to an company’s one team value. eco system. Check-it out next time your eight-metre-wide, floor to ceiling wall wrap Airport terminal manager, Daniel Dodd, said buzzing off somewhere. mural in the international departures lounge. the contract renewal provided an opportunity to make some positive changes, “bringing our new custodians into our ‘one team’ way of working where we all share responsibility for our operational performance and the customer experience”. The contract was awarded to House of Hygiene and all staff now have a QAC uniform, are involved in our social activities, and have access to QAC staff areas. The ‘one team’ approach has already made a marked difference in customer satisfaction scores, including our best score for cleanliness across the terminal as a whole, as well as our restrooms and other facilities. QAC will continue to ensure contractors form a key part of its ‘one team’ way of working as contracts come up for renewal and new terms and conditions can be developed.

Congratulations you’re 10!

In the last 10 years has:

• Transported more than 19 million NZ domestic passengers

• Increased domestic routes from eight to eleven

• In its first year, Jetstar flew more than one million Kiwis, Last month Jetstar celebrated Pictured celebrating are some of the local including many who had 10 years of flying domestically team (L-R) Richie Anihana, Kenny Reid, Lucy never flown before! in NZ, including flights to/from Cole, Lewis Gaskin (engineer), Claire Sanchez (Airport Manager), Tailine Wornath, Hannah ZQN which started in June 2009. Brown, Joy Cho and Ramiza Casingal. The ZQN team dished out orange jet planes and jelly beans to passengers and the airport community to commemorate the milestone. Airspresso turns five Queenstown Airport’s Airspresso from all over the world. With solid passenger café and bar turned five this numbers, the opening of a domestic airside kiosk, adding to the International departures month. So we spent some time airside outlet and main café, it’s no wonder with co-owner Justin Bird to the business has doubled its customers in hear about his journey over the the last 12 months-alone. From overnight past five years, growing the hosting of disrupted passengers, to the time company’s presence from one his team were asked for 45 (yes 45!) portions to three airports, with outlets at of Blue Cod and Chips for a tour group, there’s never a dull day at Airspresso. So what’s New Plymouth, Queenstown and Justin’s Why? “I really enjoy what I do and Dunedin. love coming into the Airport every day. It’s Starting with 20 staff, including long-standing that excitement of not knowing what the day manager Angele, Airspresso now employs will bring. There’s always very high energy 35 people across its three ZQN locations, with so many different personalities and a including local students on the weekend, great sense of fun, says Justin. giving them their first opportunity in the “The airport community is just one big happy hospitality world. Justin and his team have family willing to help one another. It’s my relished in the opportunities to provide fresh, happy place.” local food, coffee and beverages to travellers

Over the past five years..

• Airspresso Baristas have made 781,542 espresso coffees • The café’s most popular food item is their signature Cheese rolls with 147,209 sold

Read more about Airspresso’s airport journey on our website under the news section.

ZQN news JULY 2019 Self-service check-in

Work on the $1 million Planned for completion by 1 October, the area, providing solely self-service check- installation of an end-to-end common-user self-check-in project forms in facilities for , Jetstar and Virgin self-service check-in solution the next stage of the airport’s multi-million- Australia passengers. The system is powered dollar Project Pathway initiative which by -based tech company, Elenium, that will help deliver an commenced in 2018. During September, which designs, develops and manufactures enhanced passenger experience three automated pods (with 15 kiosks in self-service and automation technologies kicks-off in September. total) will be installed in the current check-in for the aviation sector. Utilizing the most innovative technology currently available in the market, ZQN will be the first airport globally to use the fully-integrated solution which can reduce passenger congestion by up to 60 percent. The project also includes the adoption of shared check-in equipment at the boarding gates which will continue to help streamline the boarding process for passengers and airline staff. A dual self-service bag drop will also be installed and used as a proof of concept, before looking to roll out the system further based on customer and airline feedback. Stage two will look to commence around May 2020 with more baggage drop stations added if the trial is successful, as well as improvements to the digital wayfinding signage. The team is also working with to use the common- user bag drop and premium counters as overflow check-in facilities if demand requires or when flights are disrupted. PC-24 debuts Catalina returns at WOW One of the newest business jets in the world will make its New Zealand debut at next Easter’s Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow (WOW).

The PC-24 is the latest aircraft to be produced by Pilatus Aircraft Limited based in Switzerland and is described as the world’s first ‘Super Versatile Jet’ because of its ability to land on more runways than many of its competitors. Fresh from celebrating her 75th birthday, New Zealand’s only airworthy Catalina Flying Boat has been confirmed as one of the star attractions at WOW 2020.

On 14 March 1944, ZK-PBY serial number CV357 emerged from the Canadian Vickers aircraft factory at Cartierville on the outskirts of Montreal, Canada. The aircraft is one of only a handful of airworthy Catalina Flying Boats left in the world and has always been a crowd-pleaser at previous WOW events, making a splash as she flies over Lake Wanaka before landing in front of a packed beachfront.

History buff According to some historic reports, aviation started in Queenstown on Keep up the 4th of January 1931 when N.Z. Airways Ltd’s Simmonds Spartan, ZK-ABK, piloted by Captain Tiny White, landed on the Frankton to date with racecourse. our news

@NZQN queenstownairport queenstownairport

wanakaairport wanakaairport www.queenstownairport.co.nz www.wanakaairport.com The Wakatip Mail newspaper (the paper of the time) reported that “there was quite a large gathering of visitors and the general public on the ground to welcome the first aeroplane to the district”. Captain White told the Mail that he took off from Pembroke (Wanaka’s historic name) at 11.15 am and arrived at Frankton at about noon via . Captain White was Got news? reported as saying that “the conditions for flying in Central Otago were quite good”. Over the Email your photos next few days a number of locals had the chance to go for a flight, starting flightseeing in our and stories to: region. Have a piece of local aviation history to share with us? [email protected] Email [email protected]

WKA news JULY 2019