Where is Coolangatta airport?

[Maisk Rotum]

Traveled several times recently from Sydney to the Gold Coast on Qantas. The booking says Gold Coast, the airport monitors say Gold Coast, the boarding announcement is for the Gold Coast. Get seated, fasten seatbelt and just before they close the doors I am reminded on the PA that this flight is going to Coolangatta. What? Am I on the wrong flight? Sh*t, I quickly need to get off this aircraft that I have incorrectly boarded......or do I?

Imagine if I was a tourist, and believe me there are more than a few that travel from Sydney to the Gold Coast, I would believe there was something wrong.

QF flight attendants; it is called Gold Coast airport, it has not been called Coolangatta for many years. Just because it is coded as OOL means nothing. SGN is not called Saigon airport any more. Get with it

[SilverSleuth]

Geezzz mate who cares! there are bigger things in life to worry about. Run off and have a wank and a beer, something tells me you need it.

[WannaBeBiggles]

You don't happen be work in the Gold Coast tower do you? They get quite narky if you call them "Coolie" tower :p

[BN APP 125.6]

Just one or two of them.

Thank heavens it is still the CG VOR!

[ACMS]

When did they change their callsign? it used to be Coolie twr.

As for the first post by Maisk I agree with him. The tourists must get a bit confused by it. Time for the rat to pick one name for the place and use it.

[maximus]

it was Coolangatta when I learnt to fly there in 1970, it was Coolangatta when I flew into it from Sydney 3 times a week during the 1980's and as far as I'm concerned it is still Coolangatta today :mad:

[Monopole]

I don't understand the change either :confused::confused:

"So you want to go to the Gold Coast do ya? Well here are your options. From Sydney you can catch a connecting flight to Brisbane and then drive south, or you can catch a connecting flight to Coolangatta and drive north."

Not hard.

[zlin77]

It's not The Gold Coast or Coolangatta, it is "BILINGA", that is the name used in about 1957 when I flew out in a T.A.A.Convair!!

[Maisk Rotum]

SilverScum, you keep self-flagellating yourself: it might help you one day.

For others who are interested: from the Gold Coast Airport website;

www.goldcoastairport.com.au

"Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta is Australia's fastest growing airport and is the 7th busiest airport in Australia. Gold Coast Airport was previously named "Coolangatta Airport" which is an Aboriginal word meaning 'Place of Good View' ".

and,

"Throughout this time, the Commonwealth Government owned and operated the airport. On the 1st January 1988 ownership was taken over by The Federal Airport's Corporation, a but Government business enterprise. Government policy changes saw the airport privatized on 29 May 1998 with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) being the successful tenderer and taking the role of Airport Leasing Company. In 1999, QAL changed the company name to Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd (GCAPL)."

So nine years later and Qantas staff are still calling it Coolangatta airport.

No doubt VERY confusing for tourists.

Check the Jepp charts and you won't find it called Coolangatta Airport anymore nor will it say to call "Coolie TWR". You call them "Gold Coast TWR/GND"

PEK is not called Peking airport anymore and neither is BOM called Bombay. SGN airport stopped calling itself Saigon in 1975 but your ticket will give the IATA code as SGN. It will however, spell 'Ho Chi Minh'.

I would expect there would be some consternation, and a diplomatic fracas, if QF announced on the PA that they had just landed in Saigon.

If you are providing factual, apparently useful, safety information (especially to tourists who have never heard of Coolangatta) on the PA, at least be correct.

[Maisk Rotum]

GOLD COAST WELCOMES DAILY JAPAN SERVICE

JETSTAR will be the latest low cost international carrier to fly into Gold Coast Airport
following the official announcement of the Gold Coast - Japan service today.
From 1 October 2008 Jetstar will change it’s current daily Sydney-Osaka-Brisbane service to
operate via the Gold Coast in lieu of Brisbane.
The change in services will allow for access from both the Gold Coast and Sydney, with the
carrier introducing an Osaka-Gold Coast* daily service in addition to a five times weekly A330-
200 tag service from Sydney. (*flights subject to regulatory approval)
The announcement confirms the Gold Coast’s continued advancement as a leading destination
on both a domestic and international level, cemented by the strong support from the trade
industry in both Australia and Japan.
Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer, Paul Donovan said the announcement was
extremely exciting and is symbolic of the future of tourism on the Gold Coast.
“This announcement is a logical step forward for the region in light of recent figures showing
the vast majority of inbound Japanese passengers choose to end their journey on the Gold
Coast.
“The commitment from Jetstar is a real boost for the region and signifies their belief that the
future of international tourism on the Gold Coast is looking brighter than ever.
“The collaborative marketing efforts of our team, Gold Coast Tourism and the industry as a
whole have contributed to a successful result in this instance.
“This additional service follows hot on the heels of Gold Coast City Council last week
renewing their faith in the future of tourism on the Gold Coast and their support is crucial,”
Mr Donovan said.
“We are thrilled we will soon be welcoming the Osaka service into the Gold Coast – it will not
only provide additional low-cost services for international travelers, but also give locals yet
another option for international travel.
MORE
“The terminal expansion currently underway, which will include international facilities
targeted directly to the low-cost carriers for fast turnarounds, was an alluring prospect for
Jetstar but ultimately it was the lure of the Gold Coast as a whole that finally clinched the
deal,” Mr Donovan said.
Gold Coast Tourism spokesperson Ben Pole said the announcement would be a boost for the
region’s tourism industry.
“Access is key for the tourism industry, we can create the desire for the destination but it is
essential to have access such as this to convert interest into visitation, that has been
achieved here,” he said.
“This is sure to assist our visitation from Japan which currently stands at 150,000 visitors and
$122.6 million in visitor spend, a market that has traditionally been one of our largest sources
of international tourists but has suffered a decline in recent years, direct daily Jetstar flights
will be a significant boost.”
“Following on from the renewed commitment of Gold Coast City Council to support the Five
Year Plan for Tourism, commitments such as this from major players like Jetstar and Gold
Coast Airport really strengthen the future of the Gold Coast’s most significant industry,
tourism.”
Gold Coast Airport Pty Limited is a Queensland Airports Limited company.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Melissa Pearce
Communications Coordinator
Queensland Airports Ltd
Ph: 07 5589 1107
Mb: 0437 331 557
Ben Pole
Public Relations
Gold Coast Tourism
Ph: 07 5584 6220
Mb: 0437 343 104

[Slugfest]

Standby for the rename of Maroochydore Airport to "Sunshine Coast" to match this now established stupid convention.

[PammyAnderson]

Maisk
I agree with silver, go get a life you twit, who cares is right.....

[Going Boeing]

Slugfest, I thought that had already happened.

[Slugfest]

GB,

Offically, it is known as "Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast" where as the other place is called "Gold Coast".

Coolie Tower is no more is it "Gold Coast Tower" and "Gold Coast Ground"

"Maroochy Tower" and "Maroochy Ground" are still in situ but the name change will alter this.

Lots of work for lots of people to change this believe it or not.

SF

[BN APP 125.6]

All of the above is why I still love calling them Cooly.

Anyone who gets hung up on such things deserves a good tease.

[clark y]

BN APP 125.6,

The Navaid identifier cetainly helps lesdyxics like me, but it must confuse non-regular pilots into Cooly/Gold Coast.

[amberale]

Even more fun clearing a VFR pilot direct gold coast especially from the west.
The sector south of CG is called GOLDCOAST and was for years before the airport name change. This doesn't cause any confusion when you have 2 hot lines open.:ugh:
YMML is/was actually Tullamarine.
YSSY is/was actually Mascot.

AA

[Plazbot]

The Navaid identifier cetainly helps lesdyxics like me, but it must confuse non-regular pilots into Cooly/Gold Coast.

For certain. I once did a sector where we sent pretty much everyone direct Cooly. Some hallway creeper renames the joint Gold Coast but does not change the designator or the VOR. So, suddenly we are clearing dudes direct to Gold Coast but all the lettering remained as per Cooly. A Reach crew blundered along one evening heading 360 for a number of miles then pipe up 'Ummmm, where is Gold Coast?' I tell them 'Charlie Golf'. 'Oh', comes the reply, 'Shouldn't it be Golf Charlie?'. Very good point:* Then again in all thing Airservices write down what you think is right and do the complete opposite.

[Tankengine]

I always refer to the VOR as "Coast - Gold" to get over this problem!;)

[ozmahseer]

In reagrds to Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast, I think you'll find that steps are underway to drop the Maroochydore.

[Wingspar]

Hang on I'm confused!

Is that Osaka International airport or Kansai International airport? It couldn't be Kobe airport because the runway is too short.

[hei yu]

Fly Air Asia X KULOOL and you arrive at Gold Coast (Brisbane).

[PyroTek]

Last Friday i was flying Gold Coast - Sydney,
I must admit I spent about an hour making sure Coolangatta was in fact Gold Coast...
Well, once you know it, you won't forget!:ok:

[Maisk Rotum]

Tourists care if they think they are not going to the right place. Put yourself in their shoes in a foreign country you fool. If you dont care why bother posting, hit the back button. I know you were interested coz you read the whole thread. Grow up!!!!!

[slackie]

So ... I'm still in the dark ... From Hamilton I often issue ATC clearances to the ANZ Skoda's that ply the Tasman routes... When I clear them to "Gold Coast" some read back "Coolangatta"... but when I clear them to "Coolangatta" some read back "Gold Coast"...

I've just Googled YBCG and I get about 50% referring to Coolangatta/Gold Coast and the rest referring to Gold Coast/Coolangatta!!!!

Can I get a definitive, one word (unless it's Gold Coast!!!!) answer...which is it??

Gold Coast or Coolangatta??

(Mind you it doesn't appear to matter as I haven't yet heard of one of them not turning up at its correct destination, and it probably would have made the news!!!)

[Maisk Rotum]

The answer is two words; Gold Coast. Check their website www.goldcoastairport.com.au

Callsign for R/T is Gold Coast and A.I.P. calls it Gold Coast.

It was renamed in 1999 from Coolangatta. Before that it was Bilinga airstrip.