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Queenstown International Airport is situated in the Wakatipu Basin and is overlooked by the Remarkables. The region currently receives 60 percent of all tourists that visit New Zealand.
The Airport employs 13 staff directly, with tenants and regulatory agencies employing a further 150 in and around the airport.

In a workplace where complicated operational requirements and high levels of security are necessary, retaining efficient, competent and well-trained staff is a must.

Chris Read, General Manager - Aeronautical, is one of the company’s longest serving
staff members, and personally understands the benefits of workplace training. Chris was the first person in New Zealand to complete and be awarded the National Diploma in Airport Operations, and has gained extensive knowledge of all facets of the airport’s operations during his 15 years on the job.

“We see it as an investment. If your staff are trained properly then the business gets the benefit of that training up until the time they leave,” says Mr Read. 

“We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all operations at the airport. We need to ask ourselves – are we ready for an emergency or for that operational requirement, and are we trained for it. ATTTO qualifications enable us to say ‘yes’ to those questions.”

All Queenstown Airport operational staff have either completed or are working towards airport qualifications. In 2007 there were four continuing trainees studying for National Certificates in Airport Safety and Airport Customer Service.

Developed in partnership with aviation professionals, the airport qualifications meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the airport, and keep staff responsive to industry changes.

The training and qualifications that staff gain are acknowledged in regular performance and salary reviews, reflecting the value that management place on formally up-skilling their staff both inside and outside of the workplace.

“All staff get time off for training, and we pay any costs associated with that,” says Mr Read. “We hold training sessions at the airport to make it easy for staff to attend. The company also covers all associated costs when off-site training is required.”