The council voted on Monday, 22 June, to write off the outstanding debt owed by both carriers, a month after the federal government announced that 34 airports owed money to Rex would receive a total of $4.8 million through the Regional and Remote Airport Support Program.
The airport is almost doubling its terminal footprint from 6,100m² to 11,750m², installing two new gates, and tripling the size of the domestic departure lounge from 1,250m² to 3,750m². The works are expected to be completed in 2027.
Dubbed the “GC Surfer”, the project will use buses similar to Brisbane Metro to connect Robina to Coolangatta via Varsity Lakes, Burleigh Heads, and the Gold Coast Airport at 10-minute frequencies. It comes after the light rail extension was scrapped last year following community opposition.
As part of Round 5 of the Regional Airports Program, airports can apply for funding for essential works between $20,000 and $5 million, with eligible works able to receive up to 50 per cent of the costs as a grant.
The plan will set the course for the next two decades of development at Queensland’s largest international gateway, with demand tipped to increase dramatically, especially in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The six months to 28 March saw 90 per cent of allocated slots flown, with a further five per cent unable to be used due to circumstances beyond the airlines’ control such as weather and the Middle East conflict, the slot manager said in its full season report.