Whitsunday Coast Airport Records Strongest National Growth

Published on 14 April 2026

Whitsunday Coast Airport has once again demonstrated its strength as a key regional gateway, recording the highest year-on-year passenger growth of any airport in Australia for November 2025.

New data shows Whitsunday Coast Airport achieved an impressive 14.6 per cent increase in passenger numbers, significantly outperforming the national average growth of 1.9 per cent across all Australian airports.

This result places Whitsunday Coast Airport ahead of all major and regional airports nationwide, including strong performers such as Gold Coast (7.2 per cent), Karratha (9.8 per cent) and Launceston (4.4 per cent).

Mayor Ry Collins said the result reflects the continued appeal of the Whitsundays as a must-visit destination, as well as strong demand linked to regional industry.

“This outstanding growth is a testament not only to the Whitsundays’ popularity as a tourism destination, but also to the important role our airport plays in supporting access to the Bowen Basin,” Mayor Collins said.

“Whitsunday Coast Airport is a key entry point for workers travelling to and from mining operations, and this contributes significantly to our passenger numbers.”

Director of Commercial Businesses, Craig Turner, said the result builds on consistent performance gains and reflects Council’s commitment to supporting the airport’s development and partnerships with airline carriers.

“We continue to work closely with our airline partners to grow capacity and deliver more choice for travellers, while ensuring a positive experience from the moment visitors arrive,” he said.

“Whitsunday Coast Airport remains a vital economic driver for the region, supporting local jobs, tourism operators and broader business activity.”

“With more people choosing to fly directly into Proserpine, whether for leisure or work, we’re seeing real flow-on benefits for our local economy and community.”

Whitsunday Coast Airport will continue to focus on strategic opportunities to further expand services and strengthen the Whitsundays’ position as one of Australia’s leading regional tourism and industry gateways.

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For media enquiries, contact:
Lisa Maher, Senior Communications Officer
07 4945 0204, 0408 713 243 or Email: communications@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au