Airport suffers as Qantas stalls

USER satisfaction at Townsville’s Airport is below the national average as a lengthy stalemate with Qantas over a proposed passenger charge continues.

Townsville Airport’s $ 80 million redevelopment, including a $ 40 million terminal revamp, was once projected to be completed by the end of this year.

But stalled negotiations with Qantas over a proposed passenger charge intended to help recoup costs have continually held up the project, with only some minor works within the terminal and apron works under way.

Airport representatives yesterday told an advisory group that Townsville’s passenger satisfaction was dropping.

According to an Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality survey, Townsville Airport passenger satisfaction is declining, receiving a score of 3.61 out of five in the June to September 2017 results. Townsville Airport has been participating in the survey since 2014 and from June to September this year ranked 292nd out of 314 participating airports, with the score of 3.61.

It is the lowest rank of the 12 Australian and New Zealand participating airports.

For the same period in 2016, Townsville Airport scored 3.85.

Airport commercial general manager Isabelle Yates yesterday told the Townsville Airport community aviation consultation group the average national score in that survey in the last quarter was 4.1.

“As we can see, Townsville Airport has not had a lot of work done to it for the last 10 to 15 years. People are getting frustrated at the quality of the terminal,” she said.

The meeting also heard Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics figures from June to August showed a 5.5 per cent growth in Townsville passenger numbers.

Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said the airport remained com- mitted to the project. “The airport has already commenced some $ 21 million worth of work,” he said.

“The redevelopment is supported by all major stakeholders including Virgin, with the exception of Qantas, and the airport continues to urge Qantas to support the project.”

Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said the airport was in desperate need of the redevelopment.

“As the largest city in Northern Australia, the airport needs to reflect our status and it doesn’t,” she said.

Minor works within the terminal including new rest rooms and car rental area are expected to be open before Christmas. EDITORIAL: page 16