Queenstown Airport recently attained Level 4+ airport carbon accreditation from the Airports Council International (ACI), closing in on the highest level in the programme which is Level 5.

With this accreditation, Queenstown Airport becomes one of only 46 out of over 40,000 global airports to attain either Level 4+ or 5.

The accreditation is proof of Queenstown Airport’s commitment to sustainability and reflects its progress towards decarbonisation. 

Airport chief executive Glen Sowry expressed his pride in the achievement, saying: “Aviation is a challenging industry to decarbonise. We’ve set ambitious sustainability targets and invested heavily to reduce our carbon footprint as quickly as possible. It’s pleasing to see that recognised, although there is a lot more work to be done.”

ACI director-general for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East Stefano Baronci congratulated Queenstown Airport for its significant strides in reducing carbon emissions, which he said set a benchmark for airports across the region. 

Baronci said: “By positioning itself as one of the leaders in efficient carbon management, Queenstown Airport demonstrates a strong commitment to building a more sustainable future. Queenstown Airport’s approach aligns with our industry’s collective vision of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”

Since its initial carbon audit in 2019, the airport has reduced its operational absolute emissions by 71% and is targeting an 85 percent reduction in absolute emissions by 2028.

That progress is based on a commitment to electrification, transition to a certified renewable electricity supply, upgrading of assets and infrastructure to increase efficiency, and a decision to stop using a diesel generator for supplementary power during periods of peak demand.