Townsville Airport passenger numbers have almost reached pre-COVID-19 levels, with 131,766 people coming through the terminal in April – the highest monthly amount in more than two years.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said it was pleasing to see numbers steadily rebuilding in Townsville since the start of the year.

In January the levels recorded were 55 per cent of numbers seen pre-COVID-19 impacts, in February passengers reached 68 per cent, then there was an increase to 81 per cent in March, and in April, the numbers recorded were 95 per cent of those seen in 2019.

“It has been a gradual process and we are now seeing around the same numbers we saw before the pandemic,” Mr Mills said.

“This shows how traveller confidence has been increasing since the start of the year and is fantastic news for North Queensland tourism operators.”

More than half of the passengers counted were traveling between Townsville and Brisbane, but Townsville-Melbourne became the second most popular route in the month – replacing Townsville-Sydney, which also recorded strong numbers.

“We have seen Victorians traveling around Australia in record numbers since borders reopened and it is great to see North Queensland getting its fair share of these visitors,” he said.

Virgin Australia flights between Townsville and Sydney and Melbourne, three times per week on each route, will recommence on 23 June, boosting numbers further.

The current Townsville Airport terminal works are scheduled to be complete next month when the upgrade to the existing airside café and news and gifts store is finished. Federal Government funds totalling $9.15 million was critical for the security screening and check-in component of the works.