Latest Mackay Airport News

Airport celebrates new milestone

Originally published on 21st June 2006

Mackay’s booming economy is fuelling passenger growth at Mackay’s busy airport.

The airport is celebrating a new milestone with a record 14 488 passengers passing through the city’s award-winning terminal last week – that’s up almost 200 on the previous record set during the peak September school holidays last year.
Mackay Airport general manager Trevor Heard and operations manager Ray Waters are looking forward to another bumper month at Mackay's busy airport.
General manager Trevor Heard said the airport was on target to process more than 650 000 passenger this financial year – up about 12 per cent on the previous year.

“Our bumper week coincided with the Queen’s Birthday public holiday and the second State of Origin rugby league match in Brisbane, but it also indicates the impact low cost air fares are having on air travel,” he said.

“The Mackay Port Authority is also doing its part by offering the airlines incentives to expand into new routes.”

Virgin Blue’s new direct service to Sydney is attracting keen interest from people flying into Mackay on business or looking for a short break holiday experience in the tropical north . The new service jets into Mackay four times a week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Mr Heard believes the new record will be under threat during the Queensland Mining Exhibition and the coming school holidays.

“Virgin already has moved to fly the bigger 737-800 series aircraft into Mackay during QME week. I wouldn’t be surprised if we topped 16 000 passengers,” he said.