Gold Coast Airport (OOL)

Gold Coast, AU 🇦🇺 Medium Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

YBCG

IATA

OOL

Elevation

21 ft

Region

AU-QLD

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: YBCG

Local Code: Not available

Location: -28.165962° N, 153.506641° E

Continent: OC

Type: Medium Airport

Arrivals

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Departures

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External Links

Wikipedia Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

Tourist Attractions View
Hotels View
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What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Recent traveler reviews for Gold Coast Airport (YBCG (OOL)) reveal a mixed but generally challenging experience, with many passengers expressing frustration over overcrowding and inadequate facilities, especially during peak times. While some appreciate its compact size and easy navigation on quieter days, numerous complaints highlight significant operational shortcomings.

What Travelers Love

Cleanliness: Washrooms are consistently reported as very clean and well-maintained, featuring contactless soap dispensing and water.
Domestic Departure Lounge: The domestic departure area offers a comfortable environment with large windows providing a good view of the runway and in-seat charging stations equipped with international plugs and USB ports.
Easy Navigation (on quiet days): For travelers during less busy periods, the airport is considered relatively small and easy to navigate due to its single terminal handling both domestic and international flights.
Immigration Card Readers: The implementation of Immigration Card reader machines for all passport holders has been noted to speed up the immigration process.
Parking Options: There are ample parking options available, including the Terminal Car Park, Budget Car Park, and private operators, often within a short walk or via shuttle service.

Common Complaints

Overcrowding and Insufficient Seating: A pervasive issue is the severe lack of seating, particularly in departure lounges, often forcing travelers to sit or lie on the floor. The airport frequently feels overcrowded and noisy.
Long Queues: Passengers routinely face lengthy queues at security screening, customs/immigration, and even for basic amenities like toilets and food outlets. Wait times for security can be 20 minutes or more.
Limited and Poor Facilities: The international lounge is frequently criticized for lacking air conditioning and general lounge facilities. Food options are described as limited and "pretty poor."
"Hidden" Free Water & Expensive Services: Travelers report that free water fountains are often hard to find or poorly signposted, potentially perceived as a tactic to encourage spending. ATMs are also noted as having unfavorable exchange rates.
Parking and Baggage Issues: Parking spaces in the terminal car park can be extremely tight. The international arrivals baggage carousel has been reported to have a design flaw causing bags to fall off.

Overall, Gold Coast Airport appears to struggle with its capacity to handle passenger volumes, particularly for international and peak domestic travel. While its clean facilities and convenient location are appreciated, the significant issues with overcrowding, limited amenities, and long queues often lead to a frustrating experience for many travelers. For a smoother journey, it is advisable to allow ample time, especially during busy periods, and be prepared for potentially basic facilities.

Generated False weeks ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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Airport Routes

Top Routes (by observations)

Sydney (SYD) 3
Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) 3
Auckland (AKL) 2
Christchurch Int'l (CHC) 2
Ngurah Rai/Bali Intl (DPS) 2
Adelaide Int'l (ADL) 2
Canberra Int'l (CBR) 2
Newcastle-Williamtown Airport / RAAF (NTL) 2
Avalon (AVV) 1
Hobart Int'l (HBA) 1
Hamilton Int'l (HLZ) 1
Dunedin Int'l (DUD) 1

Newly Discovered

Sydney (SYD) new
Adelaide Int'l (ADL) new
Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) new
Cairns Int'l (CNS) new
Queenstown (ZQN) new
Canberra Int'l (CBR) new
Auckland (AKL) new
Newcastle-Williamtown Airport / RAAF (NTL) new
Ngurah Rai/Bali Intl (DPS) new
Hamilton Int'l (HLZ) new
Christchurch Int'l (CHC) new
Wellington Int'l (WLG) new

Popular Flight Routes

Building Route Index: We are building our route index for commercial airports. Currently 27 routes are indexed for Gold Coast Airport. For real-time updates, admin access is required.

0 destinations displayed

Destination	IATA	City	Aircraft Type	Airline	Details	Route Map
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Top Airlines

Operating at Gold Coast Airport

Airlines by Flight Activity

Based on observed flight operations and route network

Airline	Routes	Flights	Destinations	Last Activity
Jetstar `JST` / `JQ`	17	319	17	Dec 8, 2025
Virgin Australia `VOZ` / `VA`	5	234	5	Dec 8, 2025
Qantas `QFA` / `QF`	2	67	2	Dec 8, 2025
Air New Zealand `ANZ` / `NZ`	2	13	2	Dec 6, 2025

Showing top 4 airlines by flight activity. Data includes observed departures and route networks from this airport.

For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`14/32`	8176 ft	148 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`17/35`	1909 ft	59 ft	ASP	Active

Type	Description	Frequency
ACD	Clearance Delivery	`128.75 MHz`
ATIS	H24	`112.3 MHz`
ATIS	ATIS (TWR HR)	`134.5 MHz`
CTAF	CTAF	`118.7 MHz`
FIA	Brisbane Center	`119.5 MHz`
SMC	Ground	`121.8 MHz`
TWR	Tower	`118.7 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency
`CG`	Coolangatta	VOR-DME	`112300 kHz`
`CG`	Coolangatta	NDB	`278 kHz`

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Taxis

A dedicated taxi rank, operated by Gold Coast Cabs, is located at the southern end of the terminal. Rideshare services such as Uber, DiDi, and Ola have a designated pickup area at the northern end of the terminal building.

Rental Cars

Car rental desks are conveniently located directly opposite the arrivals area. Major providers include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, and Thrifty. Pre-booking your vehicle is highly recommended, especially during peak periods.

Public Transportation

Translink operates public bus services from the stop outside the domestic arrivals area. Route 777 is an express service to Broadbeach South station, connecting to the G:link tram for Surfers Paradise. Route 760 connects to Varsity Lakes Train Station for train services to Brisbane and also travels south into NSW. Fares can be paid with a Go card or a contactless card/device.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.