Airports / New Zealand / ZQN
Queenstown Airport.
Queenstown, New Zealand · 1,171 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
NZQN
IATA ZQN
0
Operators based
1,171
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
28 nm
To the nearest alternate
Wanaka Airport (WKA), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Queenstown Airport (NZQN / ZQN) sits in Queenstown, New Zealand, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The airport sits 1,171 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into ZQN for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Wanaka Airport (WKA, 28 nm), Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR, 29 nm), and Manapouri Airport (TEU, 56 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 6,204-foot paved runway, ZQN can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from ZQN depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Queenstown.
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Field capability
ICAO
NZQN
IATA
ZQN
FAA / Local
NZQN
Elevation
1,171 ft
Coordinates
45.0192° S · 168.7464° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs New Zealand fields
state range 4–2,153 ft
At 1,171 ft, ZQN sits higher than 87% of the 38 New Zealand fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,204 ft
- 05/236,204 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 14/322,920 ft × 33 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,204 ft
ZQN's 6,204 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 28nmWKAWanaka AirportWanaka
- 29nmALRAlexandra AerodromeAlexandra
- 56nmTEUManapouri Airport
- 75nmTWZPukaki AirportTwitzel
- 82nmDUDDunedin International AirportDunedin
- 86nmIVCInvercargill AirportInvercargill
Location
Open the full mapNZQN · Queenstown Airport · Queenstown, New Zealand
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from ZQN on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 4,381 nm | 10h 35m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 6,182 nm | 14h 47m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 6,202 nm | 14h 49m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 6,378 nm | 15h 14m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 6,390 nm | 15h 16m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,631 nm | 15h 49m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 6,680 nm | 15h 56m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 6,684 nm | 15h 57m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use ZQN?
- Queenstown Airport's longest paved runway is 6,204 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at ZQN?
- Queenstown Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,204 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to ZQN?
- The closest alternate is Wanaka Airport (WKA), about 28 nm away, followed by Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) at 29 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from ZQN to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 10h 35m (4,381 nm), Los Angeles about 14h 47m (6,182 nm), San Francisco about 14h 49m (6,202 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.