Securing new direct flight capacity into several Asian cities represents a major goal for Gold Coast Airport, as it moves to capture rising passenger demand across key regional markets and ease travel friction for international visitors.
While Gold Coast Airport is equipped to accommodate large widebody aircraft, its international route network beyond New Zealand is currently limited to direct services to Bali and Fiji. Most visitors travelling from Asian hubs must transit through Brisbane Airport, which is not preferred for some groups.
“We are looking and aiming for more capacity direct to Asia,” Antonie Baradel, vice president of domestic, Pacific, and Americas, aviation business development at Queensland Airports Limited, told TTGmice at last week’s This is Gold Coast 2026 trade event. “It always takes a few years. We currently have a jet fuel price crisis, so there’s a lot that the airlines have to factor in when they’re deciding on new destinations.”
When asked which Asian destination are high-priority target markets, Baradel identified Singapore, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong.
“We know that Singapore is a big demand for Gold Coast; it remains really strong,” Baradel added.
However, Japanese agents have provided feedback that they struggle to sell Brisbane because it is a pain for groups to arrive into Brisbane and take an additional 1.5-hour bus down to the Gold Coast. He added: “When they used to fly into Gold Coast, it was much easier – 20 minutes to Broadbeach, you land on the beach, and you’ve got all the accommodation right there.”
Baradel also highlighted that inbound tourism from mainland China, which dropped from 300,000 annual visitors to 80,000 post-Covid, is now recovering steadily.
To attract new international carriers, Gold Coast Airport collaborates with Tourism and Events Queensland, Experience Gold Coast, and state government partners. Through mechanisms such as the state’s Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, the airport pairs financial incentives with comprehensive passenger data studies to prove route viability.
While global aircraft shortages have delayed network expansions, market dynamics are shifting towards secondary gateways as primary hubs like Brisbane reach capacity.
Baradel noted that major hub carriers routinely turn to secondary airports, pointing to international examples like Glasgow, London Gatwick, and Western Sydney.
“Key airlines, especially hub airlines, are looking at secondary airports. Eventually, international airlines start looking at regional gateways,” Baradel explained.
