Airport Events

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 received for a runway extension to 2500m.
- Jetstar commences domestic services.
- Pacific Blue start flying to New Zealand.
- Long term car park 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 car park 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

2010

 - All new terminal redevelopment complete offering new check-in, retail shopping and food experiences
- New Long Term Car parking opens providing an additional 950 spaces
- Gold Coast Airport wins Major Airport of the Year Award at the Australian Airports Association Awards 2010