QUEENSLAND Airports Limited has recorded 576,000 passenger movements through its airports for January 2009, with the Gold Coast Airport recording a 93 per cent increase in international traffic from the same period last year.
The owner of Gold Coast, Townsville and Mount Isa Airports, recorded a bumper month with the Gold Coast, Tweed Coast and Northern Rivers tourism regions all recording strong domestic tourist numbers.
QAL managing director Dennis Chant, says the international figures for the Gold Coast are impressive.
“We have reported a 93 per cent increase in international passenger movements through Gold Coast compared to January 2008,” says Chant.
“This is obviously the result of the strong support for newly introduced Japan services by Jetstar, as well as ongoing success with AirAsia X’s Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast service and existing Air New Zealand, Pacific Blue and Air Pacific flights to New Zealand and the Pacific region.”
The Gold Coast Airport achieved a record number of passengers while Townsville Airport also reported a growth in passenger movements. Mount Isa Airport figures showed a decline.
“Positively both Gold Coast and Townsville airports reported growth in domestic passenger movements,” says Chant.
“Mount Isa Airport has suffered a decline in movements due to the number of cancelled scheduled services by MacAir before its demise.”
Chant indicated that the downturn in the resources sector in the north Queensland region is also impacting on movements at Mackay.
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