Media Releases

For all media enquiries please call (07) 5589 1414 or email: media@qldairports.com.au.

January 18, 2021
5.7 MILLION FEWER PASSENGERS FACILITATED IN 2020

Passenger numbers at Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) ports were heavily impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020, with 5.7 million fewer passengers than the year before.

While there was a significant recovery in passenger numbers when the Queensland border re-opened to visitors on 1 December, the growth slowed when the Queensland Government declared Sydney areas as hotspots.

August 13, 2020
RECORD DROP IN FY20 PASSENGER NUMBERS FOR QAL GROUP

About 6.26 million passengers came through Queensland Airports Limited’s four airports in the 12 months to July 2020, representing a fall of 24.6 per cent on the previous year, or 2,043,478 fewer people.

There was a dramatic drop in passenger numbers in the final quarter of the year, as COVID-19 travel restrictions severely impacted the airport group.

Gold Coast Airport was particularly hard hit, with passenger numbers decreasing 25.3 per cent, or about 1.6 million people, for the year compared to FY19.

June 22, 2020
PASSENGER NUMBERS HARD HIT AS BORDER REMAINS SHUT

Passenger numbers continued to be low at Queensland Airports Limited’s four ports in May as travel restrictions continued.

A total of 21,148 passengers passed through the gates of QAL’s four ports in May 2020, representing a 96.7 per cent drop on May 2019 when 632,689 passengers were recorded.

Gold Coast Airport was particularly hard hit, with passenger numbers plunging 99.5 per cent compared to May last year, with just 26 flights recorded at the port during the month.

June 15, 2020
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS RESULT IN DRAMATIC FALL IN PASSENGERS

Passenger numbers dropped significantly at Queensland Airports Limited’s four ports in March, as the impact of travel restrictions began to impact early in the month and then accelerated.

In total, 410,941 passengers passed through the gates of QAL’s four ports in March 2020, representing a 37 per cent drop on March 2019 when 651,212 passengers were welcomed across the group.

The drop was most severe on the Gold Coast and in Townsville, with respective declines of almost 40 per cent and more than 30 per cent.

May 20, 2020
GOLD COAST AIRPORT CALLS FOR CLARITY ON BORDER REOPENING

Passenger numbers declined significantly across Queensland Airports Limited’s (QAL) four ports in April.

QAL owns and operates the Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports, which were collectively down more than 97 per cent on April 2019.

QAL CEO Chris Mills said passenger numbers had dropped significantly following government travel restrictions and the Queensland border closure.

March 20, 2020
DRAMATIC FALL IN PASSENGER NUMBERS AHEAD

Passenger numbers are falling dramatically at Queensland Airports Limited’s main ports this month following further Federal Government travel restrictions, reductions to airline services and general changes to travel behaviour.

QAL CEO Chris Mills said the impacts of COVID-19 started to be felt in February by the airport group, which owns and operates Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports, but the decline has accelerated significantly in March.

March 4, 2020
GROWTH CONTINUES IN JANUARY FOR QUEENSLAND AIRPORTS

Queensland Airports Limited had a strong start to the year, recording positive growth at all four of its ports during January 2020.

A total of 790,034 passengers passed through QAL’s four ports during January 2020, representing 1.5 per cent growth on the previous corresponding period.

March 4, 2020
QAL EXTENDS SUPPORT TO HELP LOWER REGIONAL FARES

Queensland Airports Limited, the owner and operator of Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports, has extended its agreement with independent airline Regional Express (Rex) to help keep airfare costs lower for regional Queenslanders.

The accomplished airport operator agreed to continue its support of the Rex community fare scheme following completion of its six-month trial at the end of January.

March 4, 2020
QAL SELECTS FRESHWORKS TO STREAMLINE IT OPERATIONS

Freshworks Inc, the global business software provider, today announced it has continued its expansion across Australia by signing Queensland Airports Limited as a customer.

Queensland Airports Limited, which owns and operates Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports, is using Freshservice, Freshwork’s cloud-based ITSM software, to manage its catalogue of Service Level Agreements and IT assets – including security cameras and Wi-Fi connection points across its airports.

February 21, 2020
QAL RENEWS MOU WITH GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Griffith University and Queensland Airports Limited have pledged to continue their partnership for a further three years after renewing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Griffith University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Carolyn Evans, said the MOU extension would provide valuable opportunities for Griffith students and QAL, which would benefit Gold Coast business and industry more widely.