Gold Coast Airport looks to China after posting record passenger numbers in January

THE Gold Coast Airport is planning a bright future after posting record passenger numbers in January. What area are they targeting?

The Gold Coast Airport posted record visitor numbers in January.

DIRECT flights to mainland China are still number one on the Gold Coast Airport’s wishlist after the highest visitor numbers ever were recorded in January.

For the 13th month in a row the airport posted an increase in visitor numbers, making the airport the nation’s fourth busiest.

International visitor numbers in January rose more than eight per cent to 104,500 on the same month last year.

The Gold Coast Airport.

Domestic visitors rose by about 2000 passengers, in what was described as a steady growth.

The increase in visitor numbers comes despite the airport losing its only direct flight to the Chinese mainland in September last year when flights to Wuhan were scrapped due to lack of passengers.

Flights between the Gold Coast and Wuhan were announced in May 2015 and were run in partnership with the Dalian Wanda Group, which is behind the $1 billion Jewel developmentin Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said the recent increase could be partially attributed to direct flights to Hong Kong, which was one of the airport’s largest growth areas.

“In terms of the future it’s fair to say opportunities for connections with mainland China (are a focus),” he said.

Chinese tourists Dongwan Wang and Weihua Chen having fun on Surfers Paradise beach. Picture by Scott Fletcher

Mr Mills said the spotlight on China also came off the back of the Gold Coast being named China’s fourth most popular Western destination in a poll of 3.6 million tourists.

As well as a focus on China, the airport is also in talks with a number of airlines in South East Asia.

Mr Mills declined to say which airlines were being courted until negotiations were further progressed.

Early figures for February suggest the trend is continuing but Mr Mills said they were hard to compare because last February was a leap year.

The additional passengers has also meant expansion at the airport, including adding more parking bays for planes, creating more space airside and changes to the terminal.

Chinese tourists Liu Weihong and Zhao Weiguo. Picture Glenn Hampson

This year the airport announced it was putting off an extension to the terminal until after the Commonwealth Games as it was not confident it would be finished on time.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said the decision to postpone the expansion was the right choice.

“The last thing we would want is a half-built airport at a time when we are showcasing the Gold Coast to the world,” he said.

Chinese tourists on Main Beach on the Gold Coast. Photo: Tim Marsden

Mr Winter said the tourism boom was not over.

“In the absence of any major issues or a decline in the economic market we expect this trend will continue,” he said.

Mr Winter said the visitor numbers would climb until at least the Commonwealth Games.