4 December 2018
Airport records fastest growth in Australia
Sunshine Coast Airport has again been identified as Australia’s fastest growing airport in the latest figures released by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE).
In the BITRE report for September 2018, Sunshine Coast Airport recorded a 7.2% increase in passenger movements compared to September 2017. Hobart was the second fastest growing airport with a 4.9% increase. Sunshine Coast Airport was the top performing airport to grow passenger movements in Australia in September 2018.
For the year to the end of September 2018, Sunshine Coast Airport recorded 12.3% growth in passenger movements, comprising a 12.4% increase in domestic travellers and 10% growth in international passenger movements.
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO, Peter Pallot, said that the BITRE figures were a great way to end 2018.
“This has been a phenomenal year for the team at Sunshine Coast Airport,” said Mr Pallot.
“This is the first year that the airport has been operated as a private entity and we have continued to enhance performance from both our domestic and international markets achieving an unprecedented 41 consecutive months of growth, from June 2015 to October 2018.
“These figures clearly show the strength in demand for the Sunshine Coast, and even with the constraints placed on the airport through the capacity of the current runway, we have managed to attract significant new business and the support of local travellers.
“Our flights from Auckland were once again at record levels, and with the new runway now underway, the prospects for growing international flights after the runway is commissioned at the end of 2020, look very promising.
“The new runway will enable a new generation of aircraft to fly into the airport, and enable aircraft to carry far larger freight consignments, benefiting Sunshine Coast businesses and in particular Sunshine Coast agricultural producers.”
Mr Pallot said preparation of a draft Master Plan document to guide the evolution of the airport over the next 20 years was well underway, and has involved initial discussions with key stakeholders, including statutory authorities, aviation interests and community organisations. Significant technical studies and reviews are being undertaken utilising leading independent consultants and advisers.
The Preliminary Draft Master Plan is due to be finalised in early 2019 and will be followed by a 50 day public consultation period. All submissions received during this period will be considered and addressed as necessary in the development of a Draft Master Plan. The Draft Master Plan will then be submitted to Sunshine Coast Council for consideration and approval.
ENDS
See Sunshine Coast Airport Master Plan 2040 for more information.
