The DEC of the state's airports was estimated at $5.43 billion in 2011. This is projected to grow to $10.94 billion by 2031.
South East Queensland and the northern Queensland tourist destinations have experienced significant growth in economic activity over the last 10 years. The major airports of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and, to a lesser extent, Townsville and Mackay, have seen aviation and passenger growth above the national average. The DEC of Brisbane Airport is projected to more than double from $3 billion in 2011 to $6.15 billion in 2031. The regional airports of Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Cairns are projected to experience similar rates of growth, with combined DEC projected to grow from $2.02 billion in 2011 to $3.99 billion in 2031. Projected growth rates range from 82 per cent on the Sunshine Coast to 108 per cent in Townsville.
Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Cairns and Mackay airports are privately operated. Sunshine Coast Airport is owned by local government. A new airport at Wellcamp, 17 km west of Toowoomba, is privately owned and operated. Operations commenced in November 2014 and the airport offers services to Sydney and regional Queensland destinations.
The higher than national average growth projected for all major airports in Queensland is likely to put pressure on existing infrastructure.
Brisbane Airport's operator, Brisbane Airport Corporation, has identified the need for significant investment,372 including a new runway and associated passenger facilities, which are currently being developed. The airport handled 21.8 million passengers in 2013-14, and Brisbane Airport Corporation expects this to rise to around 48.7 million by 2033-34. Additional passenger facilities, including terminal extensions, are also likely to be needed.
Table 60: Queensland airport passenger and freight volumes - 2013-2014
| Revenue passenger (No.) |
| International Freight (tonnes) |
| ||||
Airport | Domestic | International | Total | Total | Inbound | Outbound | Total | Total as % |
Brisbane | 17,013,305 | 4,807,841 | 21,821,146 | 14.89% | 54,263 | 55,895 | 110,158 | 9.38% |
Gold Coast | 4,908,531 | 875,310 | 5,783,841 | 3.95% | 3,179 | 787 | 3,966 | 1.27% |
Cairns | 3,826,752 | 469,584 | 4,296,336 | 2.93% | 1,759 | 3,439 | 5,198 | 43.00% |
Townsville | 1,522,912 | 0 | 1,522,912 | 1.04% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Mackay | 1,033,188 | 0 | 1,033,188 | 0.71% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Sunshine Coast | 893,307 | 8,026 | 901,333 | 0.62% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Rockhampton | 681,526 | 0 | 681,526 | 0.47% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Gladstone | 501,140 | 0 | 501,140 | 0.34% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Hamilton Island | 477,312 | 0 | 477,312 | 0.33% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Emerald | 263,393 | 0 | 263,393 | 0.18% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Proserpine | 244,467 | 0 | 244,467 | 0.17% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Roma | 243,901 | 0 | 243,901 | 0.17% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Mount Isa | 238,039 | 0 | 238,039 | 0.16% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Moranbah | 185,086 | 0 | 185,086 | 0.13% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Bundaberg | 159,212 | 0 | 159,212 | 0.11% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Hervey Bay | 149,443 | 0 | 149,443 | 0.10% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
Source: Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Economics (2014i)
Brisbane Airport is served by a rail line to and from the Brisbane CBD and the Gold Coast.
The railway's existing level of utilisation and spare capacity mean that major rail capacity improvements are unlikely to be needed over the next 20 years.
Cairns and Gold Coast airports are projected to have the highest levels of passenger growth of any airports in Australia. They will require significant new infrastructure to provide adequate runway capacity and terminal capacity. Passenger numbers through Gold Coast Airport are projected to rise from around 5.8 million in 2013-14 to 16.3 million by 2031/32.373 Both airport374 Master Plans outline planned improvements over the next 10 years.
Sunshine Coast Airport is also likely to require some expansion over the next 10 years. The base forecasts underlying the airport's master plan375 are for around 1.9 million passenger movements by 2020. This compares to just under one million in 2013-14.
The privately owned Wellcamp Airport outside Toowoomba opened in late 2014.
Queensland has a large number of regional airports, providing access to regional and remote communities. Most of these airports are owned and operated by local governments, which in many cases subsidise operations and maintenance.
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372. Brisbane Airport Corporation (2014)
373. Gold Coast Airport (2011)
374. Cairns Airport (2012)
375. Sunshine Coast Airport (2007)