The Bundaberg Airport is on the path to recovery, recording the highest passenger numbers in 12 months and achieving more than 50 per cent of its pre-COVID targets.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bundaberg Airport aimed to see 30,000 passengers travel through its doors every three months.
During the January to March quarter this year, the airport recorded 16,243 passengers.
While that figure is still well below its pre-COVID targets, Bundaberg Regional Council airport portfolio spokesperson Cr Greg Barnes said the airport was showing sure signs of recovery.
“While we still have a long way to go to see our airport operating at full capacity passenger numbers are certainly trending positively,” Cr Barnes said.
“During the last quarter, the Bundaberg Airport achieved 53 per cent of its passenger number targets.
“To put that into perspective, Sydney Airport recently reported achieving 50 per cent of its 2019 March traffic during March this year, which indicates that we’re currently operating in line with the industry standard.”
Cr Barnes said the quarter’s positive result was largely due to March 2021 recording the highest number of passengers since March last year.
“With nearly 7000 passengers through the door in March alone it’s our best post-COVID result yet and in comparison was actually 169 per cent of January’s traffic.
“This significant jump is certainly an indicator that we are on track and is a solid sign of recovery.”
Looking forward, Cr Barnes said he hoped to see the good news continue, with flight figures set to improve again in April.
“Qantas has also indicated it may be in a position to add additional flights during May and we certainly thank them for their commitment to keeping regional Queensland connected in these challenging times.
“During the last quarter we saw Qantas restart its Bundaberg to Brisbane early morning departure and late evening arrival flights, which has once again made business day trips possible.
“This no doubt has contributed to this quarter’s positive results.”
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Shame it is so Expensive after Qantas had such big Government Hand Outs that they cannot pass it on to the passengers then perhaps Bundy might get more visitor’s
I’m sure more of us would fly out and in of Bundaberg, if we got the cheap fares. Also a chance to fly North instead of having to go to Brisbane first. In the days gone by , i use to fly North really, from Bundaberg run meetings do business,and be able to be back the same day.. Now its a three day trip. So not happening.And so many people say the same thing.