Dunedin Airport may have to invest in a trophy cabinet as it achieved double success at the annual NZ Airports Association awards held in Blenheim last night.

The Commercial Initiative of the Year was awarded to the Southern Airport Alliance (SAA) entry for the One Trip To See It All campaign which took place in July and August last year. The SAA joined Southern Way, a strategic collaboration led by eight Regional Tourism Organisations, who developed the campaign which promoted open-jaw, multi-destination travel to encourage regional dispersal and inspire exploration of Otago and Southland. It also addressed the misconception that consumers must book return flights into and out of the same airport, highlighting Air New Zealand’s Multi-Stop tool. The evolution of this tool has been instigated through the Southern Way campaign initiative.

The judges called it a pioneering model of regional cooperation with long-term benefits for connectivity and economic growth.

Dunedin Airport GM Business Development Megan Crawford accepted the award with colleagues from Invercargill and Queenstown Airports. ‘It is incredible to have this recognition for the group who have come together and created an innovative and amazing campaign that has proved so popular with visitors.”

Dunedin Airport then took centre stage when it was named Medium Airport of the Year recognised for its strong leadership, regional collaboration, and operational delivery.

Dunedin Airport CEO, Daniel Do Bono was delighted to accept the award on behalf of his team. "This is fantastic acknowledgment for our team marking a milestone year that included the return of international services, significant infrastructure investment, and a strengthened commitment to sustainability and community.

Working with our Southern Way partners and stakeholders has produced these amazing results and we can all be very proud for the region."

Dunedin Airport’s Terminal Enhancement Project is underway with the recent opening of the new Fuel To Fly café and the next area to be revealed will happen later this month.