Whitsunday Coast Airport is officially the best.
The Council-owned and operated airport is the fastest growing regional airport in Australia, and has now been voted “Best Large Airport” at the Australian Airports Association Annual Awards.
Mayor Julie Hall says it is wonderful recognition for the hard work of the amazing WCA team led by Chief
Operating Officer Aviation and Tourism, Craig Turner, who was at the ceremony in Adelaide to receive the gong.
“It is significant to point out that our airport previously won the Best Large Regional Airport in 2018 so to
have shown our resilience and bounced back so quickly after the COVID pandemic is a credit to Craig and
his team,” she says.
“In April we smashed the highest monthly passenger record with 47,384 passengers transiting through the terminal.
“The previous highest monthly total pax for April was 37,486 in 2019 so too eclipse that by nearly 10,000
proves that WCA probably the fastest growing regional airport in Australia,” Mayor Hall says.
“The flow on economic benefits to our region’s tourism industry and business stakeholders in Airlie Beach,
Bowen, Proserpine, Collinsville, and other areas is huge.”
Chief Operating Officer Aviation and Tourism, Craig Turner says the award is just reward for the resilience and hard work of his team to navigate the airport through the COVID era and emerge the other side bigger, better and stronger.
“A major focus for my team has been business development to attract new carriers and new destinations to increase passenger and air movement, plus the introduction of freight operations.
“We have hit over 220 flights monthly which means more bums on seats, bodies in beds and visitors
exploring our region and a major reason the Whitsundays is one of Australia’s most popular tourism
destinations.
“We have Jetstar, Virgin, Qantas and Skytrans already flying direct to the Whitsundays and with Bonza
Airline indicating last week that their first flight would be from Sunshine Coast to Whitsundays, then flight
numbers will continue to soar.”
