The grueling 45-minute crawl from Gold Coast Airport to Broadbeach could soon become a five-minute flight under a bold new plan promising to fix the city’s traffic congestion.
In a landmark deal, the City of Gold Coast has partnered with global heavyweight in vertiport development Skyports Infrastructure to develop an Advanced Air Mobility network across the city.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Mayor Tom Tate and Skyports’ APAC Head Yun Yuan Tay, shifts the city’s transport strategy into the skies.
Under the plan, Skyports will lead the development of “vertiports”, which are specialized landing hubs for electric air taxis, while navigating the complex regulatory and planning pathways required for flight.
The push for air taxis is a core pillar of the City’s Legacy 2030 vision. With the 2032 Olympics on the horizon, officials are racing to implement solutions to handle the expected surge in tourism and population.
“We want the Gold Coast to be at the cutting edge of technology, and my discussions about transport opportunities with Skyports on my previous trips to Singapore and Dubai are now coming into fruition,” Mayor Tate said.
“Having seen the Skyports operations in Dubai firsthand, I can tell you that air taxis are the future of transport.
“It’s no longer science fiction, it is reality and I want the Gold Coast to be at the forefront of this transport revolution.
“I would like to see the Skyports landing pads built as soon as possible so we can have everything ready for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Partnering with global leaders like Skyports will ensure that our Olympic legacy isn’t just stadiums and sporting fields, but also transport improvements for the future.”
Skyports is already scouting locations, with active discussions underway at Gold Coast Airport.
“We’re keen to explore partnerships that enhance how people move through and around our region,” Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans said.
“Discussions with Skyports Infrastructure around Advanced Air mobility naturally aligns with our 2024 Gold Coast Airport Master Plan vision – one centred on sustainability, innovation and seamless connectivity for our passengers and wider community.”
As the company prepares to launch similar commercial operations in Dubai by late 2026, the Gold Coast is now positioned at the forefront of the southern hemisphere’s “transport revolution.”
