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Gold Coast Airport has earned an international accreditation for its accessibility initiatives.
The airport joins Perth as one of the only two Australian airports to receive accreditation under the Airport Council International’s (ACI) Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation Program, which helps recognise and facilitate efforts to improve accessibility for disabled passengers.
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“The accreditation formally acknowledges the airport’s work to embed accessibility foundations across its planning, policies and operations, as well as its ongoing efforts to improve facilities for people with reduced mobility and diverse access needs,” the airport said in a press release.
“Key initiatives supporting the accreditation are a dedicated airside Quiet Room which itself has received accreditation from Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), and an airside Pet Relief Area, recently delivered as part of the airport’s Northern Airside Processing Zone expansion project.”
According to Queensland Airports Limited chief operating officer Marion Charlton, the accreditation “reflects GCA’s commitment to creating a more inclusive travel experience”.
“Receiving this accreditation is a meaningful milestone for our airport and acknowledges the work our teams have done to embed accessibility into our thinking, design and operations,” she said.
“We know airports can be overwhelming environments for some travellers, which is why we’re focused on providing facilities that support a range of needs.
“Accessibility is an ongoing journey, and through consultation with organisations such as Aspect, we continue to identify opportunities to improve the passenger experience so that everyone can travel through our airport with confidence.”
On its website, ACI says its Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation program “provides a continuous path of improvement for airports in the area of accessibility for passengers with disabilities”.
“It is designed to help airports measure, evaluate, and improve their accessibility management and culture, and it is the only international assessment/accreditation program dedicated to airport accessibility to passengers with disabilities,” the organisation says.
The accreditation comes after the Federal Government last month released a new consultation paper on aviation disability standards.
Announced by Transport Minister Catherine King at the 2026 Australian Aviation Summit, the draft standards – developed through consultation with people with disabilities and with the industry – build on a commitment from the 2024 Aviation White Paper.
Feedback on the draft standards is open until 2 October and includes “multiple proposed solutions” for each stage of the passenger journey.
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