In an effort to improve the passenger experience, Queenstown Airport has announced it has removed its NZ$25.00 international departure fee.

According to Queenstown Airport, the move is part of the Airport’s new landing charges, which come into effect on 1 July 2012.

Queenstown Airport chief executive officer Scott Paterson said having to pay the departure fee has long been an annoying imposition on travellers.

Mr Paterson said the Queenstown Airport has been working with its airline customers over the last six months to abolish the departure fee and finalise the new landing charges.

“Essentially we set out to rebalance and simplify airport charges across passenger types and we’ve been able to remove several charges and fees, which have previously been separately levied,” Mr Paterson said.

Mr Patterson said that International passengers were the big winners, as in addition to the removal of the NZ$25 international departure fee, airline charges reduce by NZ$1.61 for each international passenger.

On the domestic front, domestic passengers will pay slightly more with charges increasing by nine cents for jet passengers and NZ$1.99 for turboprop passengers.

Mr Paterson explained that airport landing charges are reset infrequently and Queenstown Airport's last reset took place in 2004.