HISTORY

1998

  • Gold Coast Airport Ltd (GCAPL) acquired 99 year lease of airport from the Federal Government on 28 May 1998.

2003

  • Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) formed as part of corporate reconstruction of the shareholding of GCAPL, assuming 100% ownership of GCAPL.

2005

  • QAL acquired 100% ownership of both Townsville Airport Pty Limited and Mount Isa Airport Pty Limited on 15 March 2005.

2007

  • QAL launched Australia’s newest aviation business park, the Northern Australian Aerospace Centre of Excellence (NAACEX).
  • QAL acquired 51% of AVIEX, a leading aircraft paint and refurbishment company.  AVIEX moved into the NAACEX precinct at Townsville Airport.
  • QAL acquired 100% of Aviation Ground Handling – a full service ground handling agent that prides itself on low cost, high quality ground handling, backed by 16 years of experience.
  • QAL completed a runway extension at Gold Coast Airport, taking the runway to 2500m and opening up the airport to wide-bodied aircraft.  AirAsia X was the first low cost long-haul airline to begin direct international services, commencing direct services to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and opening up direct flights from the Gold Coast to Asia.
  • Gold Coast Airport named Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation – Low Cost Airport of the Year.

2008

  • Gold Coast Airport, Townsville Airport and Mount Isa Airport celebrate the 10th anniversary of the privatisation of federally owned airports.
  • Jetstar commenced direct international services from the Gold Coast to Tokyo and Osaka (Japan).
  • Gold Coast Airport named the Low Cost Airline Congress – Airport of the Year.
  • Gold Coast Airport wins the Routes – Airport Marketing Award.

2009

  • QAL acquired the remaining share of AVIEX.
  • QAL assists the purchasing consortium of Cairns and Mackay Airports (North Queensland Airports Pty Ltd) during the sale process from the Queensland Government; the North Queensland Airports consortium appoints QAL to provide special airport services through a Technical Services Agreement for twelve months.
  • BAE Systems moved their operation to the NAACEX precinct at Townsville Airport.

2010

  • QAL celebrated the opening of the new $100 million passenger terminal redevelopment at Gold Coast Airport.
  • Strategic Airlines announce new international services from Townsville Airport to Bali (Indonesia).
  • Gold Coast Airport named Australia’s Major Airport of the Year at the Australian Airports Association (AAA) Aviation Excellence Awards.
  • Gold Coast Airport named Australian Airports Association – Major Airport of the Year.

2011

  • Gold Coast Airport named Skytrax Award – Best Regional Airport (Asia/Pacific).
  • Gold Coast Airport named Skytrax Award – Staff Service Excellence (Asia/Pacific).

2012

  • QAL acquired 100% ownership of Longreach Airport Pty Ltd.
  • Qantas returned to the Gold Coast and opened a Qantas Lounge.
  • Scoot commenced direct Gold Coast – Singapore services.
  • Gold Coast Airport’s 2011 Master Plan was approved by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
  • Virgin Australia opened a Lounge at Gold Coast Airport.

2013

  • Gold Coast Airport welcomes the arrival of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, to land at the airport.
  • Mount Isa Airport teams up with Outback Queensland Tourism Association and Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce as naming rights sponsor of the 2013 Outback Queensland Tourism Awards.

2014

  • Gold Coast Airport welcome Jetstar direct services between Gold Coast-Wellington and Gold Coast-Queenstown.
  • Queensland Airports Limited awarded Airports Council International Asia-Pacific gold award for Human Resources Excellence Recognition.
  • Gold Coast Airport announce commencement of direct services between Gold Coast-Nadi, Fiji with Jetstar.

2015

  • Gold Coast Airport release preliminary draft Major Development Plan proposing the installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport. Townsville Airport announce direct services to Bali with Jetstar.
  • Gold Coast Airport announce direct services between Gold Coast and Wuhan China to commence in September with Jetstar.
  • Gold Coast Airport release preliminary draft Major Development Plan for proposed terminal redevelopment ‘Project LIFT’ (Let’s Invest For Tomorrow).
  • Queensland Airports Limited sold AVIEX Pty Ltd, to Regional Express (Rex).
  • Gold Coast Airport announce charter services with Hong Kong Airlines and Gold Coast to commence early 2016.
  • Queensland Airports Limited sold Aviation Ground Handling (AGH), to Aerocare.