Mackay Airport
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MPA forced to limit access to departure lounge

Continued passenger growth has forced the Mackay Port Authority to temporarily limit the public’s access to the security departure lounge at Mackay’s busy airport.

The MPA is about to embark on a major redevelopment of the security lounge and car park in a bid to cater for future increases in passenger numbers. More than 620 000 people are expected to pass through the terminal this financial year.

The expansion program will eventually double the capacity of the lower level security departure lounge. A new kiosk and additional toilet facilities will also improve services and facilities for passengers and visitors.

Airport general manager Trevor Heard said he was fielding daily complaints from passengers, visitors and airline representatives about delays in passing through security.

"I can only apologise but Christmas is one of our busiest times of the year and if you combine this with our construction plans, I’m afraid people can only expect even more delays," he said.

"Our short-term solution is to limit the number of people able to gain access to the security departure lounge. Only passengers with boarding passes will be able to enter the lounge."

People will still be able to accompany children and arrangements were in place to cover the elderly and passengers with special needs.

Mr Heard said negotiations were continuing with Qantas Security for a second X-ray baggage machine to improve passenger processing into the departure lounge.

"The second machine won’t be able to be installed until the redevelopment is completed and hopefully the work should finish by October," he said. "I am appealing to travellers to say their "farewells" in the main terminal area.

Recently planes were delayed for up to 20 minutes as security staff battled to process people wanting to enter the security lounge. At one stage the queue stretched from the departure lounge to the front of the terminal.

"This is clearly unacceptable to the travelling public," Mr Heard said.

During the Friday morning peak period between 9 and 10 a.m. up to 600 passengers could be queuing to enter the security departure lounge.

Meantime, Mr Heard said tenders have been called for the redevelopment of the airport car park. The MPA announced in September that it would introduce paid car parking next year in an effort to segregate parking into three zones – short and long term parking and undercover security parking.

Plans covering the car park and terminal redevelopment will soon go on display at the airport.