Queensland Airport's April Passenger Numbers Come Close to Pre-Covid19 Levels

More than 700,000 people flew through Queensland Airports Limited’s (QAL) four ports in April –
the highest number since January 2020. The 707,862 people who flew through Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach airports is just 1.4 per cent less than the amount who travelled through in April 2019 – suggesting the airports have almost returned to pre-COVID-19 passenger volumes.

Queensland Airports Limited April Passenger Numbers Come Close To Pre-Covid19 Levels_April Passenger Numbers

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QAL CEO Chris Mills said passenger numbers had been rebuilding well across QAL’s ports for the past few months, growing from about 60 per cent of pre-COVID-19 capacity in January to nearly 100 per cent in April. 

“The return to pre-COVID-19 passenger numbers is welcome news for tourism operators across 

Queensland and northern NSW,” he said. 

“About 98 per cent of these passengers flew domestically, which shows the domestic tourism 

recovery is in full swing.”

It was a bumper month at Gold Coast Airport, thanks to a series of long weekends, including Easter, 

when the airport recorded its second busiest day ever. 

Townsville Airport notched up its highest monthly passenger numbers in more than two years in April, reaching 95 per cent of pre-COVID-19 capacity. Mount Isa Airport once again exceeded pre-COVID-19 levels after hitting 100 per cent of pre COVID-19 capacity in March, while Longreach Airport recorded about 95 per cent of pre-COVID-19 capacity in the month.

Domestic and international connections will be re-established across QAL’s network in coming 

months, including flights between the Gold Coast and Queenstown, Wellington, and Christchurch, 

and additional services on the existing Gold Coast-Perth route. Virgin Australia flights between 

Townsville and Sydney and Melbourne will also be re-established in June. 

Major terminal works are underway at Gold Coast, Townsville and Mount Isa airports – including a  30,000sq m terminal expansion on the Gold Coast, which will include four glass aerobridges and will open later this year. 

Terminal upgrades in Townsville and Mount Isa are anchored by upgrades of the security screening 
points to facilitate the Federal Government’s enhanced screening requirements.