kwˈiːnztaʊn ˈɛɹpoːɹt wʌz fˈɜːst lˈaɪsənst tʊ ˈɑːpɚɹˌeɪt ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈaɪv, bˌʌt ɪt wʌz nˌɑːt ʌntˈɪl ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti z ðæt kəmˈɜːʃəl flˈaɪts bɪkˌeɪm kˈɑːmənplˌeɪs, pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli kəmˈɜːʃəl sˈaɪtsiːɪŋ ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃənz tə mˈɪlfɚd sˈaʊnd.
Queenstown Airport was first licensed to operate in 1935, but it was not until the 1950s that commercial flights became commonplace, particularly commercial sightseeing operations to Milford Sound.