Several airports around the world are very challenging for pilots to land due to their location, altitude, structure, and surroundings, to mention a few. Some of these airports are entirely avoided, while others welcome numerous landings daily.

New Zealand's Queenstown International (ZQN) is one such airport that is challenging to land on but still serves numerous airlines. It is located in Frankton, Otago, and is a gateway to the Southern Lakes of New Zealand. The region is globally renowned for its remarkable landscape, great wine, and abundant winter and summer activities.

The Central Otago airport is frequently rated as one of the world's top ten most stunning airport approaches. Those who may have experienced it will note the beautiful landscape and towering mountain ranges surrounding the aircraft as it descends toward the runway.

The Remarkables

The Remarkables are a mountain range in Otago, towering about 6,000ft (1.8km) above the airport. The highest point is the single cone, about 2.3 km above sea level. The Remarkable Skifields covers a vertical distance of 357 meters, and the average snowfall is about 3.67 meters per year.

Air New Zealand taking off from Queenstown
Photo: Petr Sommer Photography/Shutterstock

Although they provide a scenic approach, passengers are usually unaware of the skill required to navigate the numerous valleys and surrounding peaks that frame the region. Qantas captain Justin Roberts commented on his experience at the airport:

“To fly into Queenstown, we need to follow a fairly long and convoluted approach to get us down the valleys to be able to land. The terrain means it is not a typical landing approach.”

Depending on conditions and decided approach, aircraft will navigate above mountain ridges for up to ten minutes before approaching while descending over the top of the local ski field Coronet Peak, the Crown Range, or across Lake Wakatipu and the Queenstown CBD.

Many people who land at this airport enjoy a unique experience and usually take pictures and videos to keep memories. Simple Flying's friend Sam Chui took a flight to this exciting airport and documented the experience in only the way Sam could.

Unique terrain

Mountain flying presents demands for both pilots and their equipment. Numerous factors make flying and landing in mountainous regions complicated, including irregular weather patterns, visibility limitations, atmospheric pressure fluctuations, and extreme mountain waves.

The unique terrain around Queenstown Airport makes the area very popular with tourists. However, it provides challenges for large aircraft. Pilots landing at the airport require specialized simulator training and must be able to execute a successful approach under the supervision of training captains. On approach through the numerous valleys, a Required Navigation Performance (RPN) system is used.

Using an RPN calculates data using a satellite to facilitate a set track during the approach, monitoring aircraft vertical and lateral movement. Mountain ranges reaching 6,000ft (1.8km) high surrounding the airport, and then a lake to the south creates complexity for the airport that sits 1171ft (357 meters) above sea level.

Mountain flying also offers a unique experience for general aviation and pilots flying smaller aircraft like the Cessna 172. Although they enjoy the scenic approach, insufficient training and planning can be fatal. New Zealand's Wellington International is another airport that makes landings challenging due to the intense winds.

Connections on offer

A range of airlines operate flights to and from Queenstown International Airport, offering tourists several domestic and international services. International flights are operated by the Boeing 737-800 or Airbus A320, A320neo, A321, and ATR 72-600.

Air New Zealand Queenstown takeoff
Photo: stockphoto mania / Shutterstock

The country's flag carrier Air New Zealand offers the most flights at ZQN, with regular domestic and international service. It also has a lounge located on the first floor of the terminal building. It has a stunning view of The Remarkables and can accommodate about 230 guests at a time. The following connections are available from Queenstown Airport:

Air New Zealand

Jetstar

  • Auckland International Airport (AKL)
  • Gold Coast Coolangatta International Airport (OOL)
  • Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport (MEL)
  • Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)
  • Wellington International Airport (WLG)

Qantas

Virgin Australia

  • Brisbane International Airport (BNE)
  • Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport (MEL)
  • Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)

Passenger traffic

Queenstown Airport is the fourth busiest in New Zealand after Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. In 2022, the airport welcomed about 1.86 million passengers on 14,645 scheduled flights. About 1.46 million of these passengers were flying on domestic flights, while the other 400,000 were on international flights.

Queenstown Airport
Photo: Queenstown Airport

As of May 2023, the airport has welcomed 982,815 passengers on 6,181 scheduled flights. About 676,212 passengers were flying domestically, while 306,603 were flying internationally. Passenger traffic is expected to increase between July and September 2023 but will not exceed the January 2023 peak.

The airport serves an average of 184 departures every week. Queenstown-Auckland is the busiest route, with about 67 weekly flights. Although the terrain makes for complex aircraft maneuvering, ZQN can still get busy.

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Airport improvements

Queenstown Airport is going through some improvements and refurbishment. Many of these adjustments are being made to the airport terminals and facilities that contribute to the overall passenger experience rather than the difficult takeoffs and landings.

Air New Zealand - Auckland Queenstown Lounge-1
Photo: Air New Zealand

Earlier this year, the airport installed nine check-in kiosks and six new bag drop-off facilities in the terminal. This came in addition to the 15 check-in kiosks installed in 2019 and included full management and monitoring software to make the airport experience more convenient and efficient for passengers.

The other additions include a larger terminal area with enhanced amenities. A fourth screening lane alongside a landside café and exterior seating will be added at ZQN. The current terminal design was constructed over ten years ago, and with passenger numbers expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels, the airport requires adjustments.

What do you think of Queenstown International Airport's unique terrain? Have you flown to the airport recently? Let us know in the comments!

Sources: Australian Aviation