2023 Passenger Numbers Show QAL’s Strong Recovery

Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) recorded strong passenger growth throughout 2023, with 8.1 million customers travelling through its four airports, up 10% on the year prior. 

More than 6.2 million passengers passed through Gold Coast Airport (GCA), over half a million more than in 2022. 

While Townsville Airport recorded its busiest year in more than a decade – with 1.6 million people travelling through the terminal in the past 12 months. 

QAL CEO Amelia Evans said the newly released data showed demand for travel continues to increase both domestically and internationally. 

“Across QAL’s four airports we’ve seen steady growth throughout the year, with figures showing flights were fuller than pre-pandemic, particularly in and out of Gold Coast Airport, where flights were on average 86% full,” she said. 

“Townsville Airport also recorded its second busiest year in the airport's history and the busiest in the last decade, falling short of the all-time record by just 1 per cent,” she said. 

“July was a bumper month for QAL generally, as we welcomed 745,000 passengers throughout our four ports. It was also Townsville Airport’s second busiest month in history!” she said. 

“Despite impacts from the storms in the South East and Cyclone Jasper in North Queensland, both Gold Coast Airport and Townsville Airport recorded some very busy travel days either side of Christmas. 

“The busiest day at Gold Coast Airport was on the 28 December when 145 flights and almost 23,000 travellers passed through the terminal in a single day. 

“Townsville Airport recorded four of its busiest December days in the airport’s history – with most passengers choosing to travel on the 20 December, when more than 6,100 people passed through the terminal.” 

“The most popular route across QAL’s network during December was the Gold Coast-Sydney service with flights operating at over 90% capacity, servicing 724,000 passengers throughout the month,” she said. 

Mount Isa Airport recorded 228,000 passengers in 2023 – its fourth busiest year on record, while Longreach Airport saw 33,000 passengers which is on par with 2022 figures.