Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd

The History of Gold Coast Airport (from 1936 to present)

Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta is Australia's fastest growing airport and is the 7th busiest airport in Australia. Gold Coast Airport was previously named "Coolangatta Airport" which is an Aboriginal word meaning "Place of Good View".

Over the past 65 years Gold Coast Airport has undergone a major transformation from being an emergency landing strip to an International Airport.

The site of Coolangatta Airport was originally selected as an emergency landing ground for aircraft flying between Sydney and Brisbane on the airmail services. In 1939 the first regular passenger services commenced and by 1939 the airport consisted of three grass strips to handle the Regular Public Transport (RPT).

In 1947, regular air services were conducted by Queensland Airlines and Better Air Transport. In 1950 Ansett / ANA provided regular DC3 services and 1954 TAA introduced DC3 flights followed by Skymasters and Convairs.

In the early 1950's the construction of the northern part of the original terminal was completed and annual passenger movements was approaching 12,000. By 1958 the runway and taxiways were sealed along with the access road and carpark and a light aircraft apron was provided.

In 1980 construction of the existing terminal complex began. The building was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Douglas Anthony and officially named the Eric Robinson Building. By 1981 passenger movements was 656,595 per year.

Throughout this time, the Commonwealth Government owned and operated the airport. On the 1st January 1988 ownership was taken over by The Federal Airport's Corporation, a Government business enterprise. Government policy changes saw the airport privatized on 29 May 1998 with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) bening the successful tenderer and taking the role of Airport Leasing Company. In 1999, QAL changed the company name to Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd (GCAPL).

Since then, Gold Coast Airport has continued to provide the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales with an exceptional level of customer service while recognising the key role it plays in tourism and other business activities within this exciting holiday destination.

Gold Coast Airport is currently experiencing a new era of growth in both domestic and international airline services, with over two million passengers annually taking advantage of its unique location, services and facilities.

Airport History Timeline

1936	- Coolangatta Airport strip constructed
1939	- First regular passenger transport (RPT)
1958	- Runway and taxiways sealed
1980	- Construction of existing domestic terminal
1982	- Upgrading of main runway for wide bodied aircraft (B767 and A300) operations
1988	- Transfer of ownership from the Federal Department of Transport and Communications to the Federal Airport's Corporation
1990	- First International Charter flights commence
1999	- Renamed Gold Coast Airport after the successful tenderer under privatisation. Regular air services to New Zealand commence
2000	- Opening of Undercover long term carpark - $1.2 million - Construction of $2 million international terminal - Approval of the Master Plan for Gold Coast Airport - New international terminal opens. Gold Coast Airport declared a permanent international airport by Customs
2001	- Virgin Blue commences domestic flights. Airport Central complex opened.
2002	- Redevelopment of the old Ansett domestic terminal into a leisure oriented common-user terminal for both domestic and international air services. - Australian Airlines directly connects Gold Coast Airport with Asia. Passenger numbers exceed 2 million per annum
2003	- Redevelopment of the old Ansett domestic terminal into a leisure oriented common-user terminal for both domestic and international air services. - Australian Airlines directly connects Gold Coast Airport with Asia.
2004	- Approval recieved for a runway extension to 2500m. - Jetstar commences domestic services. - Pacific Blue start flying to New Zealand. - Long term carpark and Terminal 2 expanded.
2005	- More than 3.5 million people travel through Gold Coast Airport. - Jetstar begins trans-Tasman services to Christchurch.
2006	- Works commence on apron and runway extension. - Australian Airlines ceased operations. - Long term carpark extended to over 1000 under cover car parking spaces.
2007	- Runway extension to 2500m due to be completed in March 07. - Federal Government approves the $100 million airport terminal redevelopment - Gold Coast Airport welcomed its first low cost-long haul airline; AirAsia X in November. AirAsia X commenced direct services from Gold Coast Airport to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Allowing for direct flights from Gold Coast to Asia. - Tiger Airways commenced three daily services from Melbourne in November. Gold Coast Airport redevelopment Terminal 3 at a cost of $2 million in under 4 months to facilitate Tiger Airways flights - Gold Coast handled more than 3.9 million passengers in 2007
2008	- Air New Zealand absorbs Freedom Air services in March. This provides the opportunity for star alliance fares from Gold Coast to New Zealand, USA, Canada and beyond. - Virgin Blue commences daily services to Canberra - Early works for the terminal redevelopment commenced in April