ABOUT US

Gold Coast Airport is one of Australia’s fastest growing airports, now welcoming more than 6.5 million passengers annually.

The airport is the gateway to Australia’s premier tourist destination and its unique location services both South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

OUR HISTORY

In 1936, the site of Gold Coast Airport was selected as an emergency landing ground for aircraft flying between Sydney and Brisbane and in 1939, the first regular passenger transport (RPT) services commenced.

Construction of the northern part of the original terminal was completed in the early 1950s when annual passenger movements were approaching 12,000. By 1958 the runway and taxiways were sealed along with the access road and car park, and a light aircraft apron was delivered.

Construction of the existing terminal complex began in 1980 and was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Douglas Anthony, when it was officially named the Eric Robinson Building. By 1981 passenger movements were 656,595 per year.

The Federal Government owned and operated the airport up until January 1988, when ownership was taken over by The Federal Airports Corporation, a government business enterprise. Government policy changes saw the airport privatised in 1998 with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) being the successful tenderer and taking the role of Airport Leasing Company

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

EMPLOYMENT

Supported by a strong and passionate team of hardworking individuals, Gold Coast Airport offers employment opportunities across a broad range of fields including management, maintenance, airside safety, and customer service.

Gold Coast Airport is owned and operated by Queensland Airports Limited (QAL). QAL aims to be an employer of choice in the regions it serves, as part of its vision to engage customers, connect communities, and provide exceptional experiences.

View current employment opportunities at Gold Coast Airport or within the QAL Group

STATISTICS

Air transport statistics at Gold Coast Airport are based on the performance of domestic and international flights to and from GCA.

Recent performance as follows:

Domestic and International Passenger Traffic
Date
Domestic
Passengers
Growth %
International Passengers
Growth %
Total
Passengers
Total Growth %
vs Prior Year
Nov'23
452,585
-2.27%
51,732
-9.31%
513,440
-1.29%
Oct'23
487,067
2.63%
70,178
30.70%
557,245
5.48%
Sep'23
479,636
4.27%
73,849
42.98%
553,485
8.18%
Aug'23
439,303
1.15%
66,939
34.41%
506,242
4.58%
July'23
480,442
-1.89%
80,358
64.46%
560,800
4.13%
June'23
410,428
-9.27%
71,778
100%
482,206
-0.3%
May'23
411,205
-6.37%
64,188
100%
475,393
3.97%
April'23
458,997
-14.96%
32,079
100%
534,839
-3.68%
March'23
424,657
6.97%
59,931
100%
484,588
20.27%
Feb'23
375,166
23.49%
54,446
100%
429,612
41.21%
Jan' 23
510,123
32.07%
60,802
100%
570,925
47.81%
Dec'22
478,292
134.15%
57,962
100%
536,254
162.52%
Nov'22
463,104
1210.87%
57,043
100%
520,147
1372.34%
Oct'22
474,588
1729.35%
53,695
100%
528,283
1936.32%
Sept'22
459,986
1700.69%
51,651
100%
511,637
1902.89%
Aug'22
434,288
3314.48%
49,801
100%
484,089
3706.03%
July'22
489,692
406.41%
48,863
406.77%
538,555
406.45%
June'22
452,365
91.15%
31,284
98.57%
483,649
91.61%
May'22
439,189
18.24%
18,040
26.44%
457,229
18.54%
April'22
539,722
35.82%
15,562
253.52%
555,284
38.21%
March'22
397,004
41.1%
5,912
100%
402,916
43.19%
Feb'22
303,806
90.4%
425
100%
304,231
90.68%
Jan'22
386,245
99.8%
0
0%
386,245
99.8%
Dec21
204,271
-66.54%
0
-100% (2019)
204,271
-66.54%
Nov'21
35,328
-93.34%
0
-100% (2019)
35,328
-93.34%
Oct'21
25,943
-95.66% (2019)
0
-100% (2019)
25,943
-95.66% (2019)
Sept'21
25,545
-95.34% (2019)
0
-100% (2019)
25,545
-95.34% (2019)
Aug'21
12,719
-97.59% (2019)
0
-100% (2019)
12,719
-97.59% (2019)
July'21
96,698
-80.52% (2019)
9,642
-89% (2019)
106,340
-81.79% (2019)

MEDIA CENTRE

The Gold Coast Airport media centre is a resource for journalists which aims to provide current information on airport activities and initiatives.

The airport, through its parent company Queensland Airports Limited (QAL), is supported by a Corporate Relations department to assist the needs of media. Media enquiries only should be made to the Corporate Relations department on (07) 5589 1414  or by email at media@qldairports.com.au.

Enquiries regarding airline-specific information should be directed to the respective airline’s media department.

IMAGES AND FILMING

We welcome media for special tours of our airport facilities; or other media and editorial requests.

Any filming and/or stills photography activity carried out for commercial purposes at Gold Coast Airport requires the prior written permission of Gold Coast Airport Management.

Download Filming and Photography Guidelines


Please complete this form and submit to media@qldairports.com.au at least three weeks before the requested filming date(s), for your request to be reviewed.

MEDIA RELEASES
View recent media releases for Gold Coast Airport
SOCIAL MEDIA MODERATION GUIDELINES

Gold Coast Airport has a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube

Download the GCA Social Media Moderation Guidelines

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

Gold Coast Airport is owned and operated by regional airport specialist Queensland Airports Limited (QAL).

The QAL corporate group structure provides specialist resources in functional areas to ensure an overarching corporate ethos to all airports owned by QAL. This group structure was designed to achieve synergies across all airports and deliver a sustainable return on investment to shareholders, stakeholders and customers.

Amelia Evans

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Amelia was appointed Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) CEO in July 2022 after joining as CFO in 2016. As CEO, Amelia is responsible for setting the group's strategy, and leads an experienced executive team to deliver safe and exceptional airport experiences and infrastructure projects, expanding QAL’s connectivity, promoting an inclusive culture and delivering sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders.

Amelia is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of strategy, finance and operational experience in Australia and global destinations such as the UK, Pacific Islands, USA and Caribbean.  Her experience extends across multiple sectors and organisations including Ernst & Young, Qantas, British Telecom and Private Retail and Property companies.

Amelia is currently a Council member and Pro-Chancellor for Griffith University, Director of Destination Gold Coast and an Advisory member for UNIQ You, with previous board roles including National Trust Queensland and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Marion Charlton

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Marion has an impressive track record in business and aviation domestically and abroad. Since joining QAL, Marion has held a variety of senior roles including her current position of Chief Operating Officer, where she manages the day-to-day operations of QAL group airports. Recently, Marion oversaw the transformational Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion, which doubled Gold Coast Airport’s footprint to 30,000sqm. Marion worked at Atlanta and Sydney airports during the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and was in Glasgow during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Marion has strong ties to the community and is a past Trustee with the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation and sits on the board of Bond University.

Adam Rowe

Chief Commercial Officer

Adam joined QAL in 2017 as General Manager Business Development and Marketing, before moving into the role of Executive General Manager Business Development and Marketing in July 2018 and Chief Commercial Officer in August 2021. Adam is responsible for driving both aeronautical and non-aeronautical  revenue, working with airline partners and tourism bodies to grow domestic and international capacity across QAL’s ports and maximising non-aeronautical revenue with precinct partners including retail, food and beverage, parking and ground transport. Adam has held a number of senior management and executive roles within the airline industry, working for Virgin Australia and Tigerair, and brings almost 15 years’ experience to this role.


Shannon McFadden

Chief Strategy, Sustainability and People Officer

Shannon joined QAL as the Chief Strategy, Sustainability and People Officer (CSSPO) in July 2023.  Shannon has extensive experience in strategy development and implementation, stakeholder engagement, business operations, and talent management. Shannon joined QAL after more than 18 years in management consulting at Bain & Company, advising companies in Australia, the US, Europe and Asia across multiple sectors, including retail, media & entertainment, consumer products, financial services, and private equity. Shannon also held key operational roles, leading the human capital functions, supporting strategy development and mobilisation, and managing the day-to-day commercial operations of Bain Australia.  As QAL’s CSSPO, Shannon oversees the development and execution of the strategy, delivery of the company’s ESG agenda, communications and stakeholder engagement, and people & culture.

Ben Daly

Chief Financial Officer

Ben is the Chief Financial Officer and leads an experienced team responsible for managing all aspects of financial strategy and management including Treasury, Tax, Corporate Finance, Financial Control and Performance as well as Technology, Data, Procurement and Aeronautical Pricing for QAL and the four airports it owns and operates. Ben was previously the General Manager of Finance from July 2019 to January 2023. A chartered accountant, Ben has gained experience across large organisations in the airline, utilities and infrastructure industries having held senior finance, commercial and transformational roles at Sydney Airport, Origin Energy and Qantas.

Brian McGuckin

Chief Property and Planning Officer

Brian has extensive experience across the Property and Development sectors and was appointed as QAL’s Chief Property and Planning Officer in March 2023. Brian oversees QAL’s experienced Property and Planning team in the delivery of major projects such as Airport Master Plans, upgrades and the planning and facilitation of ongoing development projects. Brian previously held roles at Springfield City Group and Leighton Properties, where he delivered multiple complex and sustainable building and precinct developments to a value in excess of $1.5Bn both to design development and delivery in the Commercial Office, Retail, Hotel, Hospitality, Manufacturing and Education sectors.

David Hedges

GENERAL COUNSEL AND COMPANY SECRETARY

David re-joined QAL in January 2019 having previously held various executive roles within the Group between 2010 and 2014. He is a generalist lawyer with extensive experience as general counsel and company secretary within Australian airports and the tourism and property sectors. David is responsible for QAL’s legal and governance functions as well as the Group’s company secretarial role. His professional experience has been gained as an executive working within major national and multinational corporations and his expertise lies in an ability to successfully lead and manage legal and governance within highly regulated, dynamic and intensely competitive environments. David has also worked with Australia’s preeminent indigenous organisation, the ILC and its subsidiary, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia and was also a director of the Mutitjulu Foundation, a successful not-for-profit established to improve the lives of Uluru’s traditional owners. In addition to David’s professional expertise, he has a passion for social equity, aboriginal advancement and ethics. He is a long standing member of The Ethics Centre, a member of various legal and governance groups as well as an associate member of the Queensland Indigenous Lawyers Association.

LATEST NEWS

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