Macadamia nuts, coffee, bottled water, hot chips and chewing gum were among the most popular items sold to travellers coming through Gold Coast Airport in 2017.

Gold Coast Airport retailers sold 81,000 packets of chewing gum, 325,000 litres of bottled water and used 15,000 kilograms of coffee beans to fuel the airport’s 6.5 million-plus passengers last year.

Travellers also purchased 2.2 tonnes of macadamia nuts and 95,000 kilograms of hot chips, while the airport’s duty free store sold 360 bottles of spirits every day.

The ham and cheese croissant and the humble ham and cheese toastie were the most popular food items sold.

Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton said 2017 was a year of big numbers for the airport.

“We had a record number of passengers last year but it takes more than jet fuel to keep them moving,” she said.

“Our retailers are coming off the back of our busiest month and day on record in January and are now preparing themselves for the thousands of Commonwealth Games athletes, officials and spectators who are a matter of weeks away from arriving here.

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate a ham and cheese croissant as much as the rest of us during those busy two weeks.

“But if the athletes are looking for something a little leaner, we have plenty of healthy options too.”

Gold Coast Airport set a record for the 2017 calendar year when 6,542,604 passengers arrived or departed the airport – 120,602 more than in 2016.