Sunshine Coast Airport in Australia has announced the first flight on its new $334 million runway, as it officially opened on June 14.
An Alliance Airlines Fokker 100, flight QQ 994, was the first aircraft to touchdown on the new 2450-meter (8038-foot) runway,11 weeks since the airport closed its terminal and temporarily farewelled its last passenger jet.
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Andrew Brodie said the completion of the new longer and wider runway came at a critical time and would open the region north of Brisbane to more destinations and greater export opportunities for local producers.
“The effects of COVID-19 have crippled our industry and the broader regional economy, but this new runway paves the way towards brighter new horizons, which I know will come soon,” said Brodie. “It will enable us to welcome wide-bodied aircraft, allowing us to fill bigger planes with more people and access more domestic and, in time, international destinations direct fro
