Gold Coast Airport

Gold Coast Airport
IATA: OOL – ICAO: YBCG
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner/Operator Queensland Airports Limited
Serves Gold Coast, Queensland
Location Bilinga, Queensland
Hub for Jetstar Airways
SEAIR Pacific
Focus city for Virgin Australia
Elevation AMSL 21 ft / 6 m
Coordinates 28°09′54″S 153°30′22″E / 28.16500°S 153.50611°ECoordinates: 28°09′54″S 153°30′22″E / 28.16500°S 153.50611°E
Website goldcoastairport.com.au
Map
YBCG

Location in Queensland

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
14/32 2,492 8,176 Asphalt
17/35 582 1,909 Asphalt
Statistics (2011)
Passengers 5,261,773
Aircraft movements 35,945
Sources: AIP[1]
passenger and aircraft movements from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE)[2]
Gold Coast Airport Statistics[3]
Year Total passengers
2000–01 1,888,008
2001–02 1,736,004
2002–03 2,177,602
2003–04 2,504,001
2004–05 3,141,771
2005–06 3,515,021
2006–07 3,777,856
2007–08 4,323,355
2008–09 4,618,200
2009–10 5,186,147
2010–11 5,486,072
2011–12 5,315,923
2012–13 5,795,449
2013–14 5,746,566

Gold Coast Airport, (formally known as Coolangatta Airport), (IATA: OOL, ICAO: YBCG) is an Australian domestic and international airport located at the southern end of the Gold Coast, approximately 100 km (62 mi) south of Brisbane and 25 km (16 mi) south of Surfers Paradise. The entrance to the airport is situated in the suburb of Bilinga on the Gold Coast. The runway itself straddles five suburbs of twin cities across the state border of Queensland and New South Wales. During summer these states are in two different time zones. The Gold Coast Airport operates on Queensland Time all year round.

For the 2013–14 financial year, Gold Coast Airport was the sixth busiest airport in Australia in terms of passengers and eighth in aircraft movements.[2] It is also the third fastest growing airport in the country.[4]

History

Until 1999 the airport was known as Coolangatta Airport. This is an Aboriginal word meaning "Place of Good View". It originally consisted (1936) of three grass strips with the intention of only providing an emergency landing ground for airmail aircraft transiting between Brisbane and Sydney. Passenger flights took off for the first time in 1939 using the then grassy field of the current Coolangatta site. Regular services were started by Queensland Airlines and Butler Air Transport after the Second World War. Ansett started its own services in 1950 using DC-3s, while Trans Australia Airlines did the same in 1954 using DC-3s too as well as DC-4s and Convairs to link other Australian cities.[5]

By 1958 the taxiways and runways were fully paved, with the latter being upgraded a decade later to allow jet operations with DC-9 and L-188 Electra aircraft to begin. The current terminal, entitled Eric Robinson Building, was officially opened in 1981 by Acting Prime Minister Douglas Anthony, when at the time more than 650,000 passengers were using the airport. The following year, the main runway was lengthened to 2,042 m (6,699 ft), thus permitting the use of wide-body jets by the two domestic operators Ansett Australia and Trans Australia Airlines and their Boeing 767 and Airbus A300 respectively on flights from Melbourne and Sydney.[5]

On 1 January 1988 the airport ownership was transferred from the government to the Federal Airports Corporation. Its full privatisation occurred a decade later, when it was taken over by Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) on 29 May 1998. By 1999 the company's name had changed to become Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd (GCAPL).[6] The airport suffered from the collapse of Ansett in 2001 – Ansett had operated direct services from the Gold Coast to 12 Australian destinations.

In 2003 GCAPL was taken over by Queensland Airports Limited and today also own and operate Mount Isa Airport, Townsville Airport and Longreach Airport[7]

Despite the name change from Coolangatta Airport to Gold Coast Airport during the change of ownership, the airport still carries its original IATA Airport code, OOL.

In 1990 the airport welcomed its first international charter service from New Zealand, and by 1999 Air New Zealand low-cost subsidiary Freedom Air started scheduled no-frills service from Hamilton, New Zealand with Boeing 737s. In 2007 the airport celebrated the arrival of AirAsia X, which began services directly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Tiger Airways Australia, which started services to Melbourne. By January 2008 the Kuala Lumpur route had proved so popular that all flights up to the month of March were completely booked. AirAsia X announced that they would begin a daily service from 6 February 2010.[8]

On 22 September 2008 it was announced that Air Pacific will expand its services to Australia with the introduction of twice weekly flights between Nadi, Fiji and the Gold Coast commencing in December 2008. Air Pacific's managing director and CEO, John Campbell, said "Australia is Fiji's number one source of visitors and with the population growing rapidly in the south east corner of Queensland we know the time is right to introduce this service." The new route commenced on 1 December 2008, with two flights per week operated by the 160 seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft on a Monday and Saturday. The service has since been suspended.

By 2009 Jetstar began flying at least twice daily to the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka. Services to New Zealand increased as well, with Jetstar, Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue flying to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Airnorth also started services to the airport from Darwin, via Mount Isa. In addition, Virgin Blue announced direct services from Canberra and Townsville. This opens up connections between all three QAL owned airports – Mount Isa Airport, Townsville Airport and Gold Coast Airport.

2010 saw Jetstar announce the airport as its newest hub, increased services to Cairns[9] and new direct services to Perth[10] (discontinued in 2013) and Queenstown.[11] Tiger Airways also announced their newest base at Avalon Airport in Geelong, and said that services from Avalon to the Gold Coast will commence later in the year;[12] however, services to Adelaide would be cut due to delays in receiving new aircraft which were meant to be for their new Avalon base.[13]

On 13 June 2010 start up airline PacificFlier began weekly services from Koror, Palau, using an Airbus A310. The route has since been suspended due to traffic rights and terminal access being halted in Palau.[14]

On 26 October 2010 Gold Coast Airport was named the 2010 Major Airport of the Year 2010 by the Australian Airports Association (AAA).[15]

On 16 November 2010 Jetstar announced new daily direct services to Hobart.[16]

On 30 March 2011 Gold Coast Airport was named the Best Regional Airport Asia/Pacific and was awarded the staff Service Excellence Australia/Pacific award at the Skytrax World Airport Awards in Copenhagen, Denmark.[17]

A Scoot Boeing 777 lands at Gold Coast Airport (October 2013)

On 12 June 2012 Scoot Commenced services to Singapore.[18]

On 13 August 2012 Qantas announced that it will return to Gold Coast, flying from Sydney three times daily using a Boeing 737-800.

On 28 September 2012 Qantas Commenced services to Sydney.

On 11 December 2013 Jetstar announced that they will end the three times weekly services to Osaka-Kansai on 8 May 2014.

On 8 September 2014, Jetstar announced they will commence services to Wellington and Queenstown, New Zealand in December 2014.

On 21 December 2014, Jetstar announced they will reinstate Perth services from 29 March 2015.

On 22 December 2014 Jetstar announced they will launch services to Nadi, Fiji commencing from 31 March 2015.

Infrastructure

Eric Robinson terminal from inside an Airbus A320

It is anticipated that a railway station will be constructed at the airport when the Gold Coast Line is extended. In 2008 the Tugun Bypass opened and provided a much faster road link to the Airport, with the bypass also featuring a tunnel under the runway.[19]

The airport opened an extension to the main runway as well as a full length parallel taxiway in May 2007. The runway will be 2,500 m (8,202 ft) long, allowing for heavier aircraft with greater range to takeoff.[20]

The final runway was confirmed as 2,492 m (8,176 ft) long in 2007, as says the plaque and photos of 2006 runway length of 2042m compared to the 2007 runway length of 2,492m on the left wall of the arrivals southern exit.

On 16 May 2007, the runway extension was officially inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, the Hon Mark Vaile MP.[21]

Gold Coast Airport appointed ADCO Constructions as the principal design and construct contractor for a $100 million redevelopment of the airport's main terminal. Completed in 2010, the project has doubled the size of the existing facility to almost 27,000 m2 (290,000 sq ft), incorporating domestic and international operations with self-service kiosks and 40 common user check-in desks. The works will accommodate forecast growth for the next 10 years with a further expansion, stage two, scheduled to kick in upon demand. The main terminal – Terminal 1 – currently houses operations for Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Airnorth, Pacific Blue Airlines, AirAsia X, Tigerair and Scoot.

Tigerair flights previously operated from a low cost terminal with basic amenities, located approximately 200 m (660 ft) from the main terminal building. The building is loosely similar to Terminal 4 at Melbourne Airport but on a much smaller scale. Tiger flights have since been moved to the main terminal.

SEAIR Pacific, a scheduled and charter airline based at Gold Coast Airport, operate from their own hangar situated in the general aviation part of the airport.

An Instrument Landing System (ILS) is scheduled to be installed at the airport by June 2015 to enable planes to land during adverse weather conditions. It would be a Required navigation performance (RNP) system rather than a traditional ILS as this would allow planes to cross the coast at Currumbin rather than Surfers Paradise and therefore flying over fewer houses. The proposed ILS had become an issue with residents concerned with noise.[22]

Lounges

Gold Coast Airport has two airline lounges: one, operated by Virgin Australia, has been operational since 30 May 2012,[23] and is available to business class passengers, Virgin Australia lounge members, and Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members. A Qantas Club has been operational at the airport as of 3 December 2012,[24] and is available to business class passengers, Qantas Club members, and Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger services

The following airlines operate scheduled and in some cases chartered passenger flights from Gold Coast Airport. All passenger airlines operate flights from the main terminal (T1) with the exception of SEAIR Pacific, which operates from their own hangar in the general aviation part of the airport.

Airlines Destinations Terminal
AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur 1
Air New Zealand Auckland, Christchurch 1
Jetstar Airways Adelaide, Auckland, Cairns, Christchurch, Mackay,[25] Melbourne, Nadi,[26] Newcastle, Perth,[27] Queenstown, Sydney, Tokyo-Narita, Wellington 1
Qantas Sydney 1
QantasLink operated by Cobham Aviation Services Australia Sydney 1
Scoot Singapore 1
Seair Pacific Charter: Lady Elliot Island SEAIR Pacific Hangar
Tigerair Australia Melbourne, Sydney[28] 1
Virgin Australia Adelaide, Auckland, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney 1

Cargo services

The following airlines operate scheduled cargo flights from Gold Coast Airport. All cargo services operate from the Freight Terminal.

Airlines Destinations
Toll Priority operated by Toll Aviation Ballina, Bankstown, Brisbane, Coffs Harbour

Qantas Freight uses the belly space of Jetstar aircraft to transport cargo domestically. It is also contracted for Jetstar international flights and Air New Zealand flights from the airport. It offers same day/overnight and standby services domestically airport to airport and airport to door from Gold Coast Airport.[29]

Coast Cargo is a registered Cargo Terminal Operator (CTO) and currently handles AirAsia X and Virgin Australia airlines. It is also the agent for Toll Air Express.[30]

Emergency services

Operations

Domestic

Arrival passport stamp
Departure stamp
Busiest domestic routes out of Gold Coast Airport (2014)[31]
Rank Airport Passengers % Change
1 New South Wales, Sydney2,596,400Increase 1.5
2 Victoria, Melbourne1,754,200Increase 4.7
3 South Australia, Adelaide215,300Increase 5.0

International

Busiest international routes out of Gold Coast Airport (2013)[32]
Rank Airport Passengers % Change
1New Zealand, Auckland268,046Increase 2.3
2Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur International167,155Increase 2.5
3Singapore, Singapore151,323Increase 58.7
4Japan, Tokyo-Narita127,232Decrease 7.0
5New Zealand, Christchurch77 351Increase 7.1
Notes
  • ^1 Flights began on 12 June 2012.

Ground Transportation

See Also Transport on the Gold Coast

Road

The airport is located on the western side of the Gold Coast Highway, the terminal is 300 metres from the highway. The Pacific Motorway (M1) interchange is 1.5 km south of the airport.

Local buses are operated by Surfside Buslines

Public Bus

Airport Shuttles

Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle provides transportation from Gold Coast Airport to hotels throughout the Gold Coast. Customer service desks are in the international & domestic terminals.[35]

There are a number of private operators offering transfers between Gold Coast Airport and Brisbane. Scheduled transfers are available for arriving and departing passengers.[36][37]

Accidents and incidents

In March 1949, a Lockheed Lodestar aircraft became airborne at Bilinga airstrip for a flight to Archerfield Airport. Before reaching a height of 500 ft (150 m) it stalled and crashed. All 21 occupants died in the crash or the ensuing conflagration. It was Queensland's worst civil aviation accident.[38][39]

See also

References

  1. ↑ YBCG – Gold Coast (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 29 May 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Airport traffic data
  3. ↑ "Airport Traffic Data 1985–86 to 2010–11". Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "About Gold Coast Airport". Gold Coast Airport. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "About". Gold Coast Airport. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Gold Coast Airport History". Gold Coast Airport, Queensland. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  7. ↑ "Queensland Airports Limited". Qldairports.com.au. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  8. ↑ Name: (will appear on website) (28 October 2009). "AirAsia X increases flights to KL Visitor Information". goldcoast.com.au. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "Jetstar increases flights to Cairns – Airline-Hotel-News". Biztravelguru.com. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  10. ↑ Dale Granger (17 August 2010). "Jetstar to slash prices and put on 22 extra flights to Perth, Latest Business & Australian Stock market News". Perth Now. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Tiger Airways". Tiger Airways. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  13. ↑ Creedy, Steve (24 August 2010). "Tiger cuts routes in profit review". The Australian. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "Blank". Pacificflier.com. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Name: (will appear on website) (16 November 2010). "Jetstar offers direct Coast to Hobart link Local Gold Coast News, goldcoast.com.au, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia". goldcoast.com.au. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  17. ↑ Skytrax Award Win
  18. ↑ "Scoot speeds into Gold Coast". news.com.au. 7 February 2012.
  19. ↑ "Tugun Bypass project – Queensland Department of Main Roads". Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  20. ↑ Finelli, Marco: Coolangatta Gold Coast – An airport with a golden future, page 55, (Airliner World online) September 2005
  21. ↑ Tourism takes off at Gold Coast Airport Minister for Transport and Regional Services online
  22. ↑ Potts, Andrew (12 February 2014). "Instrument landing system to be installed at Gold Coast Airport by June 2015". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  23. ↑ David Flynn (30 May 2012). "Virgin Australia opens new Gold Coast airport lounge". Australian Business Traveller. Australian Business Traveller. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  24. ↑ John Walton (3 December 2012). "First pictures of new Qantas Club at Gold Coast". Australian Business Traveller. Australian Business Traveller. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  25. ↑ http://www.jetstar.com/mediacentre/latest-announcements/detail?id=81498b58-9663-4919-960d-96b4a53c2f02&language=en
  26. ↑ http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/jetstar-says-it-will-fly-gold-coast-fiji-direct-from-next-year/story-fnjdow5o-1227164689182
  27. ↑ http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/special-offers#/?from=&to=&date=&sale=new%20routes%20sale&price=
  28. ↑ Creedy, Steve (7 March 2012). "Expanded Tiger Airways to create 150 jobs in Sydney". The Australian. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  29. ↑ "General Aviation & Freight". Gold Coast Airport. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  30. ↑ "General Aviation and Freight". Gold Coast Airport – At the Airport. Gold Coast Airport. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  31. ↑ "Domestic aviation activity 2014" (PDF). Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
  32. ↑
  33. ↑ Translink (20 January 2014). "705, 777" (PDF). Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  34. ↑ Translink (20 January 2014). "761" (PDF). Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  35. ↑ "Gold Coast Airport Transfers". Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  36. ↑ "Transport". Gold Coast Airport. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  37. ↑ "Link Transfers". Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  38. ↑ Courier-Mail – 11 March 1949 Retrieved 5 December 2011
  39. ↑ Job, Macarthur. "Horror at Coolangatta." Flight Safety Australia, via casa.gov.au, November–December 1999, p. 47. Retrieved: 30 November 2011

External links

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