Gold Coast Airport smashes passenger record

THE Gold Coast Airport is well on track to be ready for the influx of Commonwealth Games visitors with a record number of passengers arriving at the Coolangatta facility on December 23.

Big lines at Gold Coast Airport. Picture Glenn Hampson

THE Gold Coast Airport has recorded its busiest day in history.

On Saturday December 23 the Gold Coast Airport welcomed 24,076 passengers, beating the previous record of 23,856 on Sunday January 3, 2016.

A record was also set for the calendar year with more than 6.5 million passengers arriving or departing from the Gold Coast Airport — 120,602 more than in 2016.

Gold Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said it was great to end the year on a high.

“With the Commonwealth Games just around the corner, December was a great month to show that we are ready,” he said.

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A Jetstar plane on the tarmac at Gold Coast Airport.

“Throughout the month, we saw strong domestic passenger movements, particularly from Sydney, reinforcing the Gold Coast’s ongoing popularity as a holiday destination among interstate visitors.

“We also welcomed our first month of direct Hobart services with Tigerair, which contributed to the great results.

“We saw international long-haul passenger movements grow by 8.6 per cent in December, with capacity added on Japan and Hong Kong services to cope with demand.

“We look forward to continuing this upward trend and key to this is increasing the airport’s capability to facilitate long-term passenger growth.”

Mr Mills said with less than 80 days until the Commonwealth Games the airport was preparing to welcome many more guests.

“We expect passenger movements over the Games period to be comparable to our usual summer peaks over Christmas and New Year,” he said.