Gold Coast Airport Northern Bays | Gold Coast, QLD

The works respond to evolving passenger demand and ongoing terminal capacity pressures, supporting improvements to operational efficiency and the overall passenger experience.

Client: Gold Coast Airport
Location: Gold Coast, QLD
MODE Expertise: Architecture, Interior Design, Wayfinding
MODE Team: Shaun Miller, Andrew Sharman, John McCartney, Andrew Butcher, Nuria Arguello, Blake Appana, Daniella Weisson, Troy Matheson
Photography: Photographs by Jared Hinz, courtesy of Gold Coast Airport

Gold Coast Airport Northern Bays | Gold Coast, QLD

The Northern Bays project forms a key component of the broader Existing Terminal Refurbishment (ETR) program at Gold Coast Airport, originally initiated under the Project LIFT framework.

The scope includes the reconfiguration of the airside departures lounge, incorporating new and relocated boarding zones within the Northern Airside Processing Zone (NAPZ), alongside the expansion and renewal of retail tenancies, new leased areas, and an upgraded goods and waste handling facility to improve terminal logistics.

Above the NAPZ, airline lounges are integrated as part of a coordinated commercial and operational strategy, enhancing passenger amenity and service provision. Departures seating areas have also been modernised to improve comfort and capacity during peak periods.

With domestic passenger volumes returning to and exceeding pre-COVID levels, the project addresses near-term capacity requirements while supporting future growth forecasts, improving boarding efficiency and delivering a more legible and cohesive northern terminal precinct.