The airport saw 5.6 million domestic travellers in 2023–24, up more than 210,000 on the previous high-water mark, as well as 706,000 international travellers. Sydney and Melbourne routes to the Gold Coast were among the five busiest in the country.
The funding commitment will take effect if the Australian government agrees to back the mission, which would see Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg become the first astronaut to fly under the Australian flag after training with the European …