Mackay Airport
Encyclopedia
Mackay Airport located in Mackay
, Queensland, Australia is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Mackay, with flights to the cities of Brisbane
, Sydney, Melbourne, Gladstone
, Rockhampton
, Townsville and Cairns. In the year ending 30 June 2009, the airport handled 946,318 passengers making it the 14th busiest airport in Australia.
, and landed the first plane in Mackay there, his own Avro
biplane. The Mackay City Council agreed in February 1930 to apply to excise land from the commons for aviation purposes, and the controller of civil aviation in Australia issued an airport licence on 9 March 1931. The airport opened later that year.
In 1938, the airport held an airshow featuring ten aircraft, which attracted over 8,000 spectators.
Mackay Airport had grass landing strips until 1940, when the Commonwealth Government
extended the airport's boundaries and upgraded the runways to unsealed gravel for use during World War II
. Until 1945, Mackay Airport served as an important operational military base due to its proximity to the South West Pacific Area
. In 1948, the main runway was extended, and in 1958 it was further upgraded, sealed and strengthened.
In 1941, the Commonwealth Government took control of the airport from the Mackay City Council, and built a new passenger terminal in 1953. In 1984, the government offered control of the airport back to the council, which refused. It then offered the airport to the Mackay Port Authority, then changed its mind and announced the airport would be run by the Federal Airports Corporation
. This move prompted an angry local reaction in Mackay, which eventually led to the port authority gaining control of the airport.
and Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways
.
Despite the collapse of airlines Ansett Australia
and Flight West
in 2001, Mackay Airport has experienced considerable growth in recent years, due to the use of the airport by Virgin Australia and the expansion of QantasLink
services, and handles over 620,000 passengers through the terminal per annum but that has slowed and the airport is up for sale.
In November 2008, Mackay Airport was sold to a private consortium to fund the development of Mackay Hospital.
In the year 2008, the airport handled over 730,000 passengers making it the 15th busiest airport in Australia.
In January 2010, Auckland International Airport Limited, announced plans to purchase almost 25 per cent of North Queensland Airports(NQA), operator of the airports at Cairns and Mackay, for about $167 million. Synergies for Auckland Airport with North Queensland Airports include better management of the airports' operations and working more closely with each other to attract airlines that currently don't fly to either. NQA stands to be a good stand-alone investment for future economic growth for the state of Queensland, as international tourism for the area of Northern Queensland increases, thus, illustrating a significant increase in demand for future international flights to the airports.
, Flight West Airlines, Tiger Airways
and Trans Australia Airlines
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
, Queensland, Australia is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Mackay, with flights to the cities of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Sydney, Melbourne, Gladstone
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
, Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
, Townsville and Cairns. In the year ending 30 June 2009, the airport handled 946,318 passengers making it the 14th busiest airport in Australia.
History
Moves to establish an airport at Mackay began in 1927, when Captain Ron Adair selected the site of the town commons for the construction of an aerodromeAerodrome
An aerodrome, airdrome or airfield is a term for any location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or neither...
, and landed the first plane in Mackay there, his own Avro
Avro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
biplane. The Mackay City Council agreed in February 1930 to apply to excise land from the commons for aviation purposes, and the controller of civil aviation in Australia issued an airport licence on 9 March 1931. The airport opened later that year.
In 1938, the airport held an airshow featuring ten aircraft, which attracted over 8,000 spectators.
Mackay Airport had grass landing strips until 1940, when the Commonwealth Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
extended the airport's boundaries and upgraded the runways to unsealed gravel for use during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Until 1945, Mackay Airport served as an important operational military base due to its proximity to the South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatres of World War II, during 1942–45...
. In 1948, the main runway was extended, and in 1958 it was further upgraded, sealed and strengthened.
In 1941, the Commonwealth Government took control of the airport from the Mackay City Council, and built a new passenger terminal in 1953. In 1984, the government offered control of the airport back to the council, which refused. It then offered the airport to the Mackay Port Authority, then changed its mind and announced the airport would be run by the Federal Airports Corporation
Federal Airports Corporation
The Federal Airports Corporation was a business enterprise of the Government of Australia responsible for the operation of major passenger airports in Australia. At the beginning of 1997 the corporation operated 22 airports and handled over 60 million passenger annually.It was established by an...
. This move prompted an angry local reaction in Mackay, which eventually led to the port authority gaining control of the airport.
Present
Mackay Airport is used by all four major airlines operating in Australia: Qantas subsidiaries QantasLinkQantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
and Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
.
Despite the collapse of airlines Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
and Flight West
Flight West
Flight West Airlines was an Australian regional airline headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland. Established in May 1987, it operated predominantly in Queensland...
in 2001, Mackay Airport has experienced considerable growth in recent years, due to the use of the airport by Virgin Australia and the expansion of QantasLink
QantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
services, and handles over 620,000 passengers through the terminal per annum but that has slowed and the airport is up for sale.
In November 2008, Mackay Airport was sold to a private consortium to fund the development of Mackay Hospital.
In the year 2008, the airport handled over 730,000 passengers making it the 15th busiest airport in Australia.
In January 2010, Auckland International Airport Limited, announced plans to purchase almost 25 per cent of North Queensland Airports(NQA), operator of the airports at Cairns and Mackay, for about $167 million. Synergies for Auckland Airport with North Queensland Airports include better management of the airports' operations and working more closely with each other to attract airlines that currently don't fly to either. NQA stands to be a good stand-alone investment for future economic growth for the state of Queensland, as international tourism for the area of Northern Queensland increases, thus, illustrating a significant increase in demand for future international flights to the airports.
Airlines and destinations
Former airlines to fly to and from Mackay Aiport include Ansett AustraliaAnsett Australia
Ansett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
, Flight West Airlines, Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is a low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
and Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
Operations
| Rank | Airport | Passengers carried | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brisbane AirportBrisbane Airport Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area... |
758,700 | 0.8 |