PASSENGER numbers at Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) airports continue to head skywards, with figures released last month showing strong growth at all three airports for the 2005/2006 financial year.

Managing director Dennis Chant says QAL airports have recorded a 9.8 percent increase in passenger numbers over the past 12 months. Monthly passenger figures for June 2006 also showed growth at all airports, with a 5 per cent increase at Gold Coast airport, to 270,574 passengers. "The continued growth at both Townsville and Mount Isa airports can be attributed to their position in the business travel market, while passenger numbers at Gold Coast Airport continue to reflect current challenges in the leisure travel market," Mr Chant says. Financial year-to-date cumulative passenger movements on the Gold Coast increased by 12 per cent, to 3,581,646.