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The operator of Gold Coast, Townsville, Mt Isa and Longreach airports, Queensland Airports Limited (QAL), has reported 6.8 per cent growth in passenger traffic for the 2013 financial year.
Gold Coast saw a 19.3 per cent rise in international traffic, much of it buoyed by increased frequencies by Jetstar and Air Asia X. The total number of international passengers using the airport reached 911,995. Domestic and regional traffic increased 7.3 per cent to nearly 4.9 million, bringing the aggregated increase in throughput to 5.79 million for the year, nine per cent rise.
Townsville, Mt Isa and Longreach airports grew a combined 6.8 per cent, though Townsville recorded a 2.8 per cent decline that QAL attributes to a slow down in the resources sector and government-related cost reductions. Mt Isa achieved 8.9 per cent growth for the period, mitigating the decreases reported at Townsville. Longreach, which came under QAL management during the year, did not report comparative figures.
QAL managing director Dennis Chant said the performance of Gold Coast was “satisfying” given the high incidence of bad weather in the region during the year and the high Australian dollar. Gold Coast’s performance makes it the fifth busiest airport in Australia.
