More than 44,000 passengers have come through Gold Coast Airport in the past four days (17-20 December) – as friends and family rush to reunite in time for the Christmas holidays.

Passenger stats:

- Almost 52,000 travellers were welcomed at Gold Coast Airport from Monday to Sunday last week
- This was more than the entire month of November when just 35,000 people travelled
- The weekly number was almost six times the 8,900 who were facilitated the week before border reopening day
- More than 10,000 passengers per day are consistently passing through Gold Coast Airport
- In good news for local businesses, the majority of passengers are visitors from Sydney and Melbourne.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said it was heartening to see Gold Coast Airport busy again, with visitors who had been desperate to come back to the region to holiday and see loved ones.

“Things have been operating relatively smoothly and passenger compliance with government systems and processes and COVID-19 safe hygiene and distancing practices has been excellent so far,” he said.

There are up to 70 return flights a day scheduled in the days leading into Christmas, including up to 30 per day from Sydney and 27 per day from Melbourne – which means passenger numbers could exceed 100 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels by that time.

GCA’s friendly ambassadors are back to help passengers who have not flown for some time. All airport retail and food and beverage outlets are now open and operating again.

Signage is in place throughout the terminal to encourage the wearing of facemasks, checking in, physical distancing and increased hygiene practices.

Mr Mills welcomed the government decision to reduce the quarantine period to seven days for vaccinated close contacts from 22 December.

“Anything that is done to make systems and processes easier will boost confidence and attract even more travellers to Queensland,” he said.

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