Sunshine Coast Airport retains ‘fastest growing’ status

Sunshine Coast Airport has been named as the fastest growing major airport in Australia for the second consecutive month, with a passenger increase percentage more than three times its closest challenger.

The Commonwealth Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) data for August released today showed Sunshine Coast Airport experienced a 14.5% rise in domestic and regional airline passenger numbers as well as a 24.6% increase in international travellers.

Overall, the Sunshine Coast experienced a 14.9% jump in total passengers in August compared to the same period 12 months ago.

The other two airports rounding out the top three positions were Cairns Airport (4.7% growth) and Melbourne Airport (3.7% growth).

In the same month, the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne route was the fastest growing city pair in the country, recording a massive 26.5% year-on-year growth for passengers and the highest load factor of all city pairs at 89%.

Complementing the Melbourne route growth the Sunshine Coast -Sydney city pair increased passenger numbers by 4% with loads sitting at a healthy 82%.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the BITRE data on the country’s top 20 airports confirmed that interest in Sunshine Coast as a destination continued to grow.

“Airlines are responding to the demands of travellers for increased capacity into the Sunshine Coast and passengers are taking advantage of the extra seats by making the Sunshine Coast their destination of choice,” Mayor Jamieson said

“So imagine the opportunities we will have when the Sunshine Coast Airport is expanded.”

The number of weekly Sunshine Coast - Auckland flights will increase again in 2016 with growth from three to four weekly flights in the peak season.

From December, Qantas services to Sydney will be commence from Sunshine Coast Airport with business friendly flight timing available from early February. The new services provide an additional 68,000 seats each year.

Jetstar are adding an additional 40,000 seats to their Sydney and Melbourne flights between November and March, and Virgin Australia have increased Melbourne services over the coming summer.

Mayor Jamieson said these new services were a win for Sunshine Coast residents and visitors.

“More routes are opening up and more flights are being scheduled but there is so much more potential for our airport,” he said.

“We have more visitors coming here, and wanting to enjoy everything we have to offer, and our residents want to travel to a greater variety of destinations from the Sunshine Coast.

“To do so, they need to travel on larger, more fuel efficient aircraft which need a wider and longer runway from which to take off and land.”

In July, Sunshine Coast Airport total passenger movements grew by 7.4% compared to the same period in 2014, the highest growth rate of the top 20 airports in Australia.  Domestic and regional passenger movements grew by 7.1% with international travellers increasing by 16.3%

More than 250,000 passengers travelled through Sunshine Coast Airport in the first three months of this financial year - a 12% increase on the previous quarter and the highest September quarter traffic on record

A total of 89,610 passengers used the flight services at the airport in September 2015, a 14% increase year on year and the highest number of passengers per month since January 2009.

The Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project is forecast to contribute $4.1 billion to the value of the local economy and generate more than 2230 jobs between 2020-2040.

The project is expected to be completed by 2020, subject to obtaining all necessary approvals and funding.

FACT BOX

Top six Australian airports

Growth in revenue passengers for August 2015 compared to August 2014*

Sunshine Coast           14.9%

Cairns                          4.7%

Melbourne                   3.7%

Alice Springs               3.4%

Gold Coast                  2.5%

Sydney                        1.9%

• All top 20 Australian airports combined 0.5%

(\* Commonwealth Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics)