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Nelson Airport released its annual report for the year to 30 June 2026 and shows its earnings increased slightly despite a small drop in passenger numbers.
Operating profit (EBITDA) rose to $11.3m, up from $11.2m and ahead of the airport’s $11.1m target. Total revenue grew 4.9 per cent to $19.4m.
Passenger numbers dipped 1.5 per cent to 844,874, compared with 858,138 the year before. The airport describes this as a flat result, with Air New Zealand’s schedule cuts, the global fuel crisis and the weak economy all weighing on demand.
Revenue
Aeronautical revenue came in below budget but still grew year on year, from $10.14m to $10.87m.
Parking and other ground transport revenue rose to $4.92m, and property revenue held at just over $3m. Ticketless parking and online parking bookings started in December 2025.
Net profit after tax fell to $2.4m from $3.2m because of a one-off $1.86m loss on disposal. A $1.5m dividend was declared in August, up 7.1 per cent.
Projects
The rebuild and expansion of the apron was the biggest project of the year. It was finished on budget in December 2025, after 13 months of work in a live operating environment. The apron grew by 6,600m² and got a larger stormwater system.
Capital spending came in at $9.2m against a planned $15.1m. Some projects started later than expected, including the covered walkway extension and the stormwater upgrades, and moved into the 2027 financial year.
The walkway extension started in July 2026. It includes close to 200 solar panels, expected to supply about 12 per cent of the terminal’s annual electricity needs.
Runway and regional connections
The runway extension planning framework took effect July 14. All three Environment Court appeals were resolved without a hearing.
In February, the airport ran its first “Flapper Flight” with Hawke’s Bay Airport and Originair, a direct charter between Nelson and Napier for the Art Deco Festival. The pilot was used to test demand for direct regional travel.
The airport also bought an aviation hangar in its General Aviation precinct and supported the Nelson Regional Development Agency’s post-flood visitor campaign.
Community and customers
Customer satisfaction was rated “Excellent” for the fourth year running. Visitors make up 67.1 per cent of passengers, and business travel rose 6 per cent on 2025.
The Airport Perimeter Walkway reopened in December 2025 with a community event. The airport also won Large Business of the Year at the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce awards.
The airport expects passenger numbers to stay flat for the foreseeable future, with airline capacity, fleet availability and economic conditions still limiting growth.
In FY27 it plans to finish the covered walkway, take on the next stage of the stormwater upgrades and publish a revised 2050 Master Plan.
Read the full report here
