Owais Crawford
Sunshine Coast Airport is an Australian international airport located in Marcoola, in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Region. It is approximately 90 km north of Brisbane, within the South East Queensland agglomeration. The airport is owned by Sunshine Coast Regional Council and is the principal airport for the region, serving as a gateway to holiday destinations such as Noosa, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, and Caloundra. The airport offers a range of services, including car hire, public buses, taxi, rideshare, and shuttle transfers, as well as dining and shopping options. It is served by airline partners such as Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Air New Zealand, providing direct services to destinations within Australia and internationally to Auckland, New Zealand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Former name | Maroochydore Airport |
| Location | Marcoola Beach, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Maroochydore |
| IATA | MCY |
| ICAO | YBSU |
| Ownership | Sunshine Coast Regional Council, leased to Palisade Investment Partners |
| Operator | Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd |
| Airlines | Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Bonza (suspended), and more |
| Destinations | Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Sydney, and regional destinations |
| Annual passengers | Over 1 million |
| Terminals | 1 |
| Lounges | No airline lounges, public departure lounge with seating for 350 |
| Amenities | Retail, dining, baggage carousels, taxi rank, shuttle services, car rental |
| Public transport | Sunbus Sunshine Coast route 622, Suncoast Cabs, Uber, limousine, shuttle services |
| Parking | ParkTerminal, ParkCovered, ParkSaver, and more |
| Environmental status | Australia's first carbon-neutral airport |
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What You'll Learn
Location and transport links
Sunshine Coast Airport (formerly Maroochydore Airport) is located in Marcoola, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Maroochydore, in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. It is approximately 90 km (56 mi) north of the centre of Brisbane, within the South East Queensland agglomeration. The airport is about an hour's drive from Brisbane, Queensland's capital city.
The airport is easily accessible by various transport options, including rental cars, taxis, buses, and resort shuttles. Sunshine Coast Airport is serviced by taxi services such as Suncoast Cabs and Sunbus Sunshine Coast's route 622 from Sunshine Plaza to Noosa Junction. Several companies offer airport shuttle services to Sunshine Coast hotels and private residences, including Twin Waters, Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba, Kawana Waters, Buderim, Caloundra, Golden Beach, and Pelican Waters.
Sunshine Coast Airport has a Car Rental Centre with six rental companies: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Thrifty. These companies offer convenient options for exploring the region and taking in the scenery. The airport provides parking in three different car parks right by the terminal, with cheaper rates available for online bookings.
In addition to car and taxi services, Sunshine Coast Airport is connected to public transport. The local TransLink Bus route 622 stops near the arrivals hall, departing for Noosa about once an hour and making stops in Marcoola and Coolum Beach along the way. Con-x-ion Shuttles offer door-to-door services from the airport arrivals to nearby hotels.
The airport is also accessible by rail, with a railway line connecting the region to Brisbane in the south and Gympie in the north. Brisbane Airport, located about 100 km away, serves as an international gateway to Queensland, offering regular transfers to the Sunshine Coast.
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Airlines and destinations
Sunshine Coast Airport, formerly known as Maroochydore Airport, is located in Marcoola, about 10 km north of Maroochydore and 90 km north of Brisbane, Australia. It is the principal airport for the Sunshine Coast region, serving as a gateway to popular holiday destinations such as Noosa, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, and Caloundra.
The airport has a single terminal that can be divided into separate international and domestic areas. Six airlines operate from this terminal, offering direct flights to several destinations within Australia and internationally.
Sunshine Coast Airport is serviced by several airline partners, including Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Air New Zealand. Jetstar, in particular, has a strong presence at the airport, offering daily flights to Auckland, New Zealand, and expanding its route offerings to include Cairns from December 2024. Air New Zealand also provides a seasonal international service between July and October, with three weekly return flights to Auckland.
In addition to international flights, Sunshine Coast Airport offers direct services to several Australian cities. These include Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Cairns. The airport is easily accessible from these cities and provides an ideal entry point to the Sunshine Coast region, known for its idyllic subtropical climate and natural beauty.
The airport is well-equipped to handle a range of transport options for passengers arriving or departing. Local taxi services such as Suncoast Cabs and ride-sharing options like Uber are readily available. Additionally, bus services like Sunbus Sunshine Coast's route 622 connect the airport to nearby areas. For those preferring a more private option, car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Thrifty have desks adjacent to the baggage claim area.
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Facilities and services
Sunshine Coast Airport is located in Marcoola, about 10 km north of Maroochydore and 90 km north of Brisbane, Australia. It is the principal airport for the Sunshine Coast region, operating 24 hours a day and welcoming over 1 million passengers annually. The airport is owned by Sunshine Coast Regional Council and is managed by Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd.
Sunshine Coast Airport has a range of facilities and services to accommodate its passengers. The airport has a single-storey terminal with separate international and domestic areas. There are no aerobridges, so passengers walk a short distance across the tarmac to their aircraft. The terminal provides seating for about 350 people in the public departure lounge, with canvas-style waiting rooms at multiple gates. Free WiFi is available throughout the terminal, which also offers several food and shopping options.
The airport has six rental car companies—Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Thrifty—with desks adjacent to baggage claim in the arrivals hall. There are three different car parks near the terminal, with ParkSaver being the most budget-friendly option. The airport also has a taxi rank, and shuttle bus services connect to all suburbs south of the airport, including Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, and Caloundra.
Sunshine Coast Airport is serviced by airline partners Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Air New Zealand, offering direct flights to Adelaide, Auckland, Cairns, Melbourne, and Sydney. The airport has also been recognised as Australia's first carbon-neutral airport, with a focus on sustainable practices.
The airport provides a range of shopping and dining experiences, including Swell Cafe, which serves light meals, coffee, beer, and wine, with a focus on local produce. There is also a Rip Curl store selling surfwear and swimwear, and News Travels, which offers books, magazines, snacks, souvenirs, and locally sourced gourmet foods.
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History and ownership
Sunshine Coast Airport, formerly known as Maroochydore Airport, is located in Marcoola, about 10 km north of Maroochydore and 90 km north of Brisbane, in the Sunshine Coast Region. The airport is owned by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and is the principal airport serving the region, with over 1 million passengers annually, making it the 14th busiest airport in Australia.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to its early days as Maroochydore Airport. In February 2017, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council announced that Palisade Investment Partners had been awarded a 99-year lease to operate the airport, demonstrating a long-term commitment to its development. To address capacity issues, the council contracted John Holland Group to undertake a major upgrade and expansion project in 2018, which included the construction of a new runway and the decommissioning of the existing one.
The expansion project was not without controversy, as it involved changing flight paths and faced legal challenges from affected communities. However, the airport has continued to grow and expand its operations. In February 2022, low-cost carrier Bonza announced that the airport would become its headquarters, but financial troubles led to the suspension of all operations in April 2024. Jetstar, one of the airport's airline partners, expanded its route offerings from the airport in June 2024, providing additional flight options for passengers.
Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd currently operates and manages the airport, ensuring its safe and secure operation, maintenance, commercial development, and strategic planning. The airport serves as a gateway to popular holiday destinations in the region, including Noosa, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, and Caloundra. It offers direct flights to several destinations within Australia, such as Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Cairns, as well as international services to Auckland, operated by Jetstar and Air New Zealand.
The airport has a single terminal with separate international and domestic areas and provides a range of facilities for passengers, including dining and shopping options, a public departure lounge, free WiFi, and various ground transportation options, such as rental cars, taxis, and shuttle services.
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Environmental considerations
Sunshine Coast Airport, formerly Maroochydore Airport, is located in Marcoola, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Maroochydore and 90 km (56 mi) north of Brisbane, Australia. The airport is owned by Sunshine Coast Regional Council and is the principal airport for the region, serving as a gateway to holiday destinations such as Noosa, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, and Caloundra.
Sunshine Coast Airport has implemented several environmental initiatives and considerations as part of its expansion and operations:
- Carbon Neutrality: The airport has been recognised as Australia's first carbon-neutral airport by the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation Program, achieving carbon neutral status four years in a row. This involves offsetting carbon emissions and contributing to reforestation projects to mitigate the environmental impact of air travel. Passengers can also estimate their carbon footprint through the airport's Trip CO2 Calculator and explore ways to make their travel more sustainable.
- Expansion Planning: The airport's expansion plans, which aimed to address capacity issues, included environmental considerations recommended by the Coordinator-General. While the specifics of these considerations are not publicly available, the expansion involved significant changes to runway configurations, including the decommissioning of the existing commercial jet runway and the removal of the general aviation runway.
- Energy Efficiency: The airport terminal building has canvas-style waiting rooms, which may contribute to energy efficiency by providing natural lighting and ventilation, reducing the reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning.
- Transport Options: The airport encourages the use of sustainable transport options, offering a range of eco-friendly alternatives to private car usage. These include taxi services, bus routes, shuttle services, and rental bikes, motorbikes, and electric vehicles. The airport also has a railway line connection to Brisbane, providing a more sustainable transport option for passengers travelling to and from the region.
- Waste Management: While specific details are scarce, the airport's focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility likely includes waste management strategies. This may involve recycling initiatives, waste reduction programs, and partnerships with local waste management organisations.
- Water Conservation: Given the airport's location in a subtropical climate, water conservation practices are likely a key consideration. The airport may employ strategies such as rainwater harvesting, water-efficient fixtures, and landscaping with drought-tolerant plants to reduce water consumption and promote sustainable water usage.
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Frequently asked questions
Sunshine Coast Airport is located in Marcoola, 10km north of Maroochydore, in the Sunshine Coast Region.
Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd operates and manages the airport. It is owned by Palisade Investment Partners, who were awarded a 99-year lease in 2017.
Airlines that operate from the airport include Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Alliance Airlines, Air New Zealand, and Bonza.
The airport is served by taxi services, Uber, limousine, public buses, rideshare transport, shuttle transfers, and hire cars.
