Queensland Airports Limited, which owns and operates Gold Coast, Townsville and Mount Isa airports, has reported that during 2009 cumulative passenger traffic increased by 6.24 per cent compared to the previous year.
For the year, more than 6.6 million passengers passed through the three airports. The growth was assisted primarily by the Gold Coast, which saw a 91 per cent increase in international traffic due to new services from carriers including AirAsia X, Jetstar and Pacific Blue, while Townsville also saw a steady growth in numbers of 2.38 per cent. These helped to moderate a 14.65 per cent fall at Mount Isa, largely as a result of a slowdown in the mining industry.
“2009 was certainly a tough year for many airports, with many recording little or even negative growth as the impact of the GFC was felt across the world,” said managing director Dennis Chant. “To record a growth in such a year is a very positive result for the QAL Group.”
Chant added that QAL is undertaking a number of capital works this year on the three airports, with the redeveloped terminal at Gold Coast set to open by the end of January, while other terminal works will be undertaken at Townsville and Mount Isa.
