Freight Operations during Curfew at Gold Coast Airport

Sydney Airport Essential Runway Resurfacing - Stage 1 complete

Sydney Airport have completed Stage 1 of the project with approximately seven kilometres at the intersection of the main north-south and east-west runways resurfaced.

Flights between 11pm and 6am have now resumed on the main north-south runway. 

The next stage of this project is planned to commence in October 2020, subject to Commonwealth approval.

Night view over Gold Coast looking south with beach, high rise buildings, canals and arterial road

UPDATE: The curfew freight movement dispensations have ended (2 April 2022)

What has happened?

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has advised Airservices that they have granted permission to Qantas Freight to operate a maximum of four weekly freighter services to and from Gold Coast Airport on behalf of Australia Post during the curfew period.

This is a result of increased demand for e-commerce in the region combined with the reduction in freight typically carried by passenger services due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In approving the application, the Department considered the benefits of direct connections between Gold Coast Airport and other locations, which will support local businesses and supplement the capacity of existing road freight.

What was approved?

The permit to operate during the curfew period was issued under the Air Navigation (Gold Coast Airport Curfew) Regulations 2018. Operations were approved for:

  • Four BAe-146 services per week during curfew
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and in the morning
  • The period of operations commenced on 5 October 2020 to 01 April 2022.

Airservices has worked closely with the Department to ensure that eligible aircraft are able to comply with Noise Abatement Procedures in order to reduce noise impacts for the community. This includes the prioritisation of approaches to Runway 14. Qantas (Cobham) must report (and include the reasons for) any landing on runway 14 that uses the ILS to the Department.

We recognise that some people may be more sensitive to aircraft operations occurring at night and members of the community may be disturbed by aircraft noise during these times.

What movements are allowed during curfew period?

The Gold Coast Airport Curfew allows a limited number of operations in the curfew hours of 11pm to 6am in line with the regulations. These include emergency services aircraft, aircraft involved in an emergency, low noise small business jets and small propeller aircraft. Full details of permitted aircraft movements during the curfew can be found at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.

Dispensation for further operations during the curfew may be approved by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. Further information can be found on the Department’s website.

UPDATE: The curfew freight movement dispensations have ended (2 April 2022)

What has happened?

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has advised Airservices that they have granted permission to Qantas Freight to operate a maximum of four weekly freighter services to and from Gold Coast Airport on behalf of Australia Post during the curfew period.

This is a result of increased demand for e-commerce in the region combined with the reduction in freight typically carried by passenger services due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In approving the application, the Department considered the benefits of direct connections between Gold Coast Airport and other locations, which will support local businesses and supplement the capacity of existing road freight.

What was approved?

The permit to operate during the curfew period was issued under the Air Navigation (Gold Coast Airport Curfew) Regulations 2018. Operations were approved for:

  • Four BAe-146 services per week during curfew
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and in the morning
  • The period of operations commenced on 5 October 2020 to 01 April 2022.

Airservices has worked closely with the Department to ensure that eligible aircraft are able to comply with Noise Abatement Procedures in order to reduce noise impacts for the community. This includes the prioritisation of approaches to Runway 14. Qantas (Cobham) must report (and include the reasons for) any landing on runway 14 that uses the ILS to the Department.

We recognise that some people may be more sensitive to aircraft operations occurring at night and members of the community may be disturbed by aircraft noise during these times.

What movements are allowed during curfew period?

The Gold Coast Airport Curfew allows a limited number of operations in the curfew hours of 11pm to 6am in line with the regulations. These include emergency services aircraft, aircraft involved in an emergency, low noise small business jets and small propeller aircraft. Full details of permitted aircraft movements during the curfew can be found at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.

Dispensation for further operations during the curfew may be approved by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. Further information can be found on the Department’s website.

Sydney Airport Essential Runway Resurfacing - Stage 1 complete

Sydney Airport have completed Stage 1 of the project with approximately seven kilometres at the intersection of the main north-south and east-west runways resurfaced.

Flights between 11pm and 6am have now resumed on the main north-south runway. 

The next stage of this project is planned to commence in October 2020, subject to Commonwealth approval.