Gold Coast Airport (OOL) - Pictures/News/Discussion

[splashmo]

Don't take it as definite, but I think it's exciting news for the Gold Coast. It also sounds like a cheap way to get to Hong Kong, maybe take JQ or DJ up there and transfer, should be much cheaper than going direct from ADL or wherever.

Hong Kong LCC to fly to Gold Coast for AUD$350 return
Thursday, 1 March 2007

Hong Kong-based LCC Oasis has been in talks with Gold Coast Airport to establish cheap direct flights that will see fares between Hong Kong and Australia drop to AUD$350 return.

With an extended runway opening on March 15, there will be a likelihood of long-haul flights arriving at Gold Coast Airport. The possibility of this will be discussed when Gold Coast Airport management and Asian airline executives meet next month.

“With a bigger runway, we see a new era for us and it will certainly give the city a major push,” said Gold Coast Airport boss Paul Donovan. “And as far as direct flights from Asia, it’s not a matter of it, but when. And I believe it will be sooner rather than later.”

“We want them flying into here. In three weeks, we will be briefing all the major airlines in Asia on what we now have to offer, including Oasis.”

Donovan has commented that he has been currently talking to airlines from Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, Japan and the Middle East. If this were to be successful, these flights will feed the demand that continues to grow, and this can be seen by the numbers of arrivals in the area in the recent years.

“We’ve grown from 300,000 passenger arrivals in 1996 to 3.6 million last year and the growth patterns for the next 10 years will be just as strong.”

Source

Though IIRC Oasis only has 747s; is there the demand or capacity to handle such a large aircraft at OOL?

[CP Doom]

Brisbane Airport will be pissy.

[splashmo]

Well I found the transfer between Brisbane Airport and the Gold Coast absolutely horrendous. They should have come up with an airport serving the whole SEQ area.

[Arnzy]

There are already 3 Airports servicing flights in the South East Queensland area. Brisbane is the main domestic and international airport, followed by Gold Coast Airport (domestic, and LCC International flights), and Sunshine Coast Airport (mainly domestic flights to regional & capital cities)

Either way, exciting times ahead for Gold Coast Airport, but either Oasis has to get a smaller twin-jet aircraft (eg Boeing 777) or GC Airport has to extend their runway to take 747s.

[Wezza]

Oasis has an excellent colour scheme on their a/c. They currently only have a few 747's, which are leased. With the runway lengthened, the GC might be able to handle 747's, albeit with severe payload restrictions? Not sure what the pavement strength is like?

[Tyson]

I wouldn't read too much into it just yet. It would be excellent news however "in talks with" could easily mean someone from the GC leaving a message on the answering machine at Oasis.

What length will the new runway be? If if still won't able to take a 747 what is the largest aircraft it will be be able to take?

[Wezza]

The runway will be approx 2500m long. Which is enough for a lightly loaded 747 providing the pavement is strong enough.

[Macca-GC]

Keep in mind that Gold Coast Airport doesn't have airbridges. Pain in the ass, I KNOW, and despite Gold Coast Airport Corporation spending $80million on a terminal upgrade, we still aren't going to get airbridges. I honestly don't think 747s Would be able to come into the Gold Coast.

Another thing to consider is how close the airport is to Currumbin hill, which for those of you who don't know, is a large headland just north of the runway.

I remember a while back the GC Bulletin(not really a reliable source, but anyway) reported(bitched is a better word) that even with the runway extension, GC airport wouldn't be able to handle an A380. It was around the time the A380 visited Brisbane. One such reason it gave for this is the height of Currumbin Hill. Just wondering if this would be an issue for 747s as well.

[dallas]

Very cool for GC if this goes ahead. I'm usually not a fan of the discount airlines, but Oasis flies between HK and Gatwick for about 300 quid return for coach, and 900 quid return for business, a work collegue of mine uses them to lfly home and swears by them. If they start flying to GC, I may be tempted to fly business down to GC and come and check finally check out Queensland for myself before hiring a car and heading down to Sydney and Melbourne.

[Wezza]

Originally Posted by Macca-GC

Keep in mind that Gold Coast Airport doesn't have airbridges. Pain in the ass, I KNOW, and despite Gold Coast Airport Corporation spending $80million on a terminal upgrade, we still aren't going to get airbridges. I honestly don't think 747s Would be able to come into the Gold Coast.

The only thing stopping them is pavement strength IMO. The runway will be long enough. (Not sure about the hill though) Townsville used to see regular 747 flights to the USA with a slightly shorter runway.

[tayser]

Australians are spoilt with airbridges - most think because you fly Virgin Blue into Tulla, Syd, Brisvegas, Adelaide or Perth and board/alight on airbridges that it's the same everywhere..... go to Europe and you'll see what a real LCC is - case in point: Dublin, the home of Ryanair, they have their own LCC terminal which is pretty much just like Adelaide's old domestic.

relax, climbing stairs is not hard

fark! I had to lump it on the tarmac at Charles de Gaulle!!

[Tyson]

Virgin reguarly use the stairs even where there are aerobridges. The front half of the plane board through the bridge while everyone in the arse end of the plane has to go outside and walk around to the stairs at the rear doors.

[splashmo]

One thing I never thought I'd miss about Adelaide's old terminal is that blast of air when you step outside the plane. But I've seen quite a few flights at the new airport terminal that still use stairs.

I remember arriving at OOL and the blast of hot humid air.

[Macca-GC]

Better hot, humid air than pissing down with rain!

[splashmo]

True, true.

[Wezza]

Virgin usually use the aerobridges only when they're in Townsville.

[rirwi4]

747's to the Gold cost? i really can't see that happening, though i could be wrong, it would be quite an acheivment to fill 747's from the gold cost to Hong kong? i would be almost positve(again, almost) that oasis will have to get smaller aircraft(as someone mentioned earlier, 777's) to fly to the cost.

Also, as splashmo said, it still amazes me why there wasn't an airport on the southside of Brissie to servise the entire SEQ, rather than just Brisbane. It would be so much eaisierto have just to one airport, as not to have a small contest between BNE and OOL, even though it won't even hit the radar for BNE, it's still another Airline, which all comes down to bragging rights. It would also be able to help consolidate the domestic airline that have to use twice as many aircraft as if they were noly flying to just the one destination.

And just out of curiosity, does anyone know the exact number of Airlines that fly the OOL, as it would be intresting to see a comparrison to see how many int's airlines fly to both BNE and OOL.
cheers,
rirwi4

[matt_87]

Yeah I don't know if a 747 would make it to the Gold Coast. I know I saw on the news the other day that because of the heavy early morning fog in Brisbane the JAL flight from Tokyo was diverted to Sydney - guess that was the closest 747 capable airport to Brisbane.

[Macca-GC]

Yeah, 747s can't land on the Gold Coast now because the runway's too short and the approach over Currumbin Hill is too high.

I don't think tere was a suitable airport site anywhere inbetween Brisbanne and the Gold Coast for a major airport. Remember the fuss kicked up when Goss wannted to build the South Coast tollway! Frigging Koala habitats.

I think that really, the Gold Coast airport should really be marketing itself towards the high-end market(people who fly their own planes into GC airport).

[KJBrissy]

It would be good to have the Gold Coast Airport extended enough to cater for 747's. This would allow them to land at OOL instead of Sydney whenever there are problems at Brisbane. This not only includes weather but also things like emergancies, shreaded tires etc. This would be even easier when the rail line terminates at the Gold Coast Airport.