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Gold Coast Airport, or Coolangatta Airport, (IATA: OOL, ICAO: YBCG) is an Australian domestic and international airport on the Gold Coast and is located some 80 kilometres (50 mi.) south of Brisbane. The entrance to the airport is situated in the suburb of Bilinga on the Gold Coast. The runway itself straddles 5 suburbs of twin cities across the state border of Queensland and New South Wales. During summer these states are in two different time zones.
Gold Coast Airport is the fastest growing airport in Australia, and has handled during financial year 2005/2006 more 3,5 million passengers, an increase of 11,51% over the previous year. 2,871,593 passengers have already passed through the airport during the first nine months of the 2007/07 year, with 352,554 visitors in January, which represents an all-time high of passengers handled in a single month by Gold Coast Airport.
Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta is Australia's fastest growing airport and is the 7th busiest airport in Australia. Gold Coast Airport was previously named "Coolangatta Airport" which is an Aboriginal word meaning "Place of Good View".
Over the past 65 years Gold Coast Airport has undergone a major transformation from being an emergency landing strip to an International Airport.
The site of Coolangatta Airport was originally selected as an emergency landing ground for aircraft flying between Sydney and Brisbane on the airmail services. In 1939 the first regular passenger services commenced and by 1939 the airport consisted of three grass strips to handle the Regular Public Transport (RPT).
In 1947, regular air services were conducted by Queensland Airlines and Better Air Transport. In 1950 Ansett / ANA provided regular DC3 services and 1954 TAA introduced DC3 flights followed by Skymasters and Convairs.
In the early 1950's the construction of the northern part of the original terminal was completed and annual passenger movements was approaching 12,000. By 1958 the runway and taxiways were sealed along with the access road and carpark and a light aircraft apron was provided.
In 1980 construction of the existing terminal complex began. The building was opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Douglas Anthony and officially named the Eric Robinson Building. By 1981 passenger movements was 656,595 per year.
Throughout this time, the Commonwealth Government owned and operated the airport. On the 1st January 1988 ownership was taken over by The Federal Airport's Corporation, a Government business enterprise. Government policy changes saw the airport privatized on 29 May 1998 with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) bening the successful tenderer and taking the role of Airport Leasing Company. In 1999, QAL changed the company name to Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd (GCAPL).
Since then, Gold Coast Airport has continued to provide the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales with an exceptional level of customer service while recognising the key role it plays in tourism and other business activities within this exciting holiday destination.
Gold Coast Airport is currently experiencing a new era of growth in both domestic and international airline services, with over two million passengers annually taking advantage of its unique location, services and facilities.
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