Upgrades at Whyalla Airport in SA have been completed to permit Qantas Q400 operations, it was announced this week.
The $32.4 million project strengthened the RPT apron, taxiway Alpha and runway 17/35 to enable the heavier 74-seat regional airliners to use the airport.
A new lighting system was also installed.
Funding came from the Federal Government ($16.2 m), South Australia State Government ($13.8 m) and the City of Whyalla council ($2.4 m).
South Australian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the upgrades were needed to service the city of 22,000 people and the heavy industries located there.
“This upgrade was imperative to ensure commercial air travel could continue to this facility," he said. “Without it, there would have been significant damage to the businesses that rely on FIFO workers, as well as tourism operators, among others.
“Whyalla is clearly a major priority of this Government, and the importance of a well-functioning access point to and from the city cannot be overstated.”
Qantas currently offers 16 flights per week linking Whyalla to Adelaide. The service has been using 50-seat Q300s, which are being phased out of the airline's fleet and replaced with Q400s.
State MP for Giles Eddie Hughes said without the investment, Whyalla would have lost airline services.
“Without that investment we would have lost vital commercial flights between Whyalla and Adelaide, not to mention the provision of medical services would have been seriously degraded not just in Whyalla but also in Port Augusta.
“It’s great to see the upgrade delivered on time, on budget and employing locals."
Whyalla currently services 50,000 passengers per year and is also a critical airport for the RFDS and general aviation flights.