Christchurch Airport says it's now cemented itself as the most important gateway to the South Island

It says it's also the single biggest employment centre, south of Cook Strait.

The airport's reporting a 15-percent increase in annual revenue, and a 10-percent rise in passenger numbers -- returning a total dividend to council of 37.6 million dollars.

By comparison, Queenstown has seen a 9-percent increase in annual revenue, a 4.9-percent rise in passenger movements, and a record dividend to council of 14.7 million dollars.

Christchurch remains more than twice as big, in terms of passenger volumes.