Australia’s Gold Coast Airport: AirAsia X and Hong Kong Airlines drive rapid international growth

Australia's Gold Coast Airport is enjoying rapid traffic growth, driven by new and expanded international services. The airport recently started construction on a new terminal which will provide an enhanced level and service, and more widebody parking spots, to support anticipated further international growth.

Gold Coast traffic was up 8% to 6.3 million passengers in the year ending 30-Jun-2016, with international traffic up 18% to 1.05 million. Gold Coast had the fastest international growth in FY2016 among Australia's six main international airports.

AirAsia X and Hong Kong Airlines have accounted for most of the recent growth. AirAsia X has added capacity on Kuala Lumpur-Gold Coast while launching Gold Coast-Auckland. Hong Kong Airlines launched services to Gold Coast in early 2016 and is already planning to increase capacity.