Air travellers have responded positively to a Bundaberg Regional Council online survey with a majority giving the upgraded regional airport operations a tick of approval.
Council conducted the survey last month to gather valuable feedback from airline passengers to help with ongoing evaluation of the airport and guide its future growth and direction.
The survey found eighty-six per cent of the 1142 people who took part in the survey said they were satisfied with their experience at the airport.
Mayor Cr. Lorraine Pyefinch said she is pleased with the number of responses to the survey as well as the positive feedback demonstrating the airport is meeting the requirements of a vast majority of the travelling public.
Cr. Pyefinch said the survey results confirmed, that apart from travelling to Brisbane, 58% of respondents would like to fly to Sydney and 22% would like the option of going to Melbourne.
Cr. Pyefinch said the responses vindicate Council’s discussions with alternative carriers about introducing direct flights to Sydney.
“With the airport now “jet ready” following the lengthening and strengthening of the airstrip and new apron to accommodate jet services, Council is keen to see an airline conduct extra services to and from Bundaberg” Cr. Pyefinch said.
Cr. Pyefinch said the survey also pointed toward a portion of the respondents indicating a preference to fly to destinations north of Bundaberg including Rockhampton, Mackay and Gladstone.
“This reflects an increase in the number of workers from the Bundaberg region taking up employment in the resource sector and looking to fly into these regions, rather than drive” she said.
Cr. Pyefinch said Council would continue to pursue this sector of the travelling workforce in an effort to reap the benefits from the expanding mining industry.
