Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion: Remarkable features of $500m project
Visitors will find a host of uniquely Gold Coast features inside the airport’s new terminal when it opens later this year – including one sure to be popular for photos.
Travel
Don't miss out on the headlines from Travel. Followed categories will be added to My News.
VISITORS to the Gold Coast will begin their holidays even before they leave the terminal when the airport’s impressive new expansion opens later this year.
Uniquely Gold Coast features adorn the $500m project – including a line through the baggage hall marking the border with NSW which is sure to be popular for photos.
The Bulletin was on Tuesday given exclusive access to the new facility, getting the first look at the aerobridges, arrivals hall and border control facilities that will greet passengers arriving on international flights.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said the gateway was determined to give the new terminal a look that would immediately distinguish it as “not just another airport”.
“We wanted a Gold Coast look and feel,” Mr Mills said.
“The point for me is that it’s just not another airport. When you look at the arrivals hall you say straight away – that’s Gold Coast Airport.
“It’s the first impression people get when they arrive and the last thing they see before they take off.
“It’s the airport the Gold Coast deserves.”
The three-level, 30,000sq m expansion doubles the airport’s terminal footprint. It will allow for up to 19 aircraft at the airport at any one time – a huge boost for local tourism.
It has also been designed to be “future proof”, with the possibility of being further extended.
“We needed to be set up for the future”, Mr Mills said.
“Everything has been cleared for future expansion in the same direction.
“It sets us up for many years to come”.
One consequence of the expansion was that, like the runway, the airport’s terminal building now crosses the NSW border – noted with the line across the baggage hall floor which is sure to be a popular spot for photos.
Mr Mills said it was an opportunity the airport could not miss.
“Little things like that, they’re unique to the Gold Coast,” he said.
“Our approach was, let’s celebrate it.”
NEW FLIGHTS TO BALI ANNOUNCED
DIRECT flights from the Gold Coast to Bali have been announced in a major coup for the airport as it prepares to open its $500 million terminal expansion.
Virgin Australia will operate the route from March next year, becoming the first Australian carrier to offer direct flights between the destinations, with return fares starting at $399.
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the airline had seen a huge growth in demand for flights to and from Gold Coast Airport.
“We are currently seeing continued growth in travel demand for Gold Coast services and are
operating up to 180 domestic flights outbound each week,” Ms Hrdlicka said.
“In May alone our Gold Coast bookings were up 55 per cent compared to 2019, with bookings on our existing Bali flights up 48 per cent for the same period and growing every week.
“With the addition of the new International Terminal to the Gold Coast Airport and demand for Bali rising, the time is right to connect these two famous holiday destinations as well as the surf breaks, wellness activities and night-life that comes with them.”
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said it was exciting that passengers travelling on the new service would be starting and ending their journeys at the Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion.
“This fresh, modern facility is almost complete and will give us the space we need to make way for the long term growth in demand we are expecting,” he said.
“This is the first new international service. We expanded the terminal because we are confident about future growth and demand in and out of the Gold Coast.”
The Gold Coast to Bali flights will begin on 29 March next year and are available to book from Tuesday June 14.
More Coverage
Action camera goes to next level to win new fans
It started as a little company which offered film-based wrist cameras for surfers more than 20 years ago. Now it has a cult following with 50 million units sold. So what’s next for the world’s top action camera?
Queensland chef’s ‘fire dining’ sparks global demand
Swapping fine dining for ‘fire dining’ in an effort to connect with people has resulted in unexpected opportunities on a global scale for a Queensland-based chef.