Airport Overview
The Sunshine Coast Airport is owned, operated and managed by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. It is the principal airport for the Sunshine Coast.
The airport supports a number of regular public transport (RPT) services and a variety of general aviation (GA) activities. These activities are in keeping with the increasing demands of tourism, passenger traffic, general aviation and commercial development opportunities.
The airport operates 24 hours a day, handles aircraft movements of around 87,000 per annum, and the terminal has a capacity of over 1 million passengers per annum.
Airport Management
Sunshine Coast Airport is a business unit of Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Management is responsible for the safe and secure operation, maintenance, commercial development and strategic planning functions of the Airport.
Sunshine Coast Airport manages the airport terminal building and public carpark, all internal access roads, all runways, taxiways and aprons, visual aids and all serviced land at the airport. It also manages the concessions and leasing activities at the airport and agreements and lease of land to relevant airport customers and stakeholders.
The air traffic control services and navigation aids are the responsibility of Airservices Australia.
Sunshine Coast Airport provides the essential requirements of an airport operation in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner and endeavours to make a positive and leading contribution to the economic growth of the Sunshine Coast region.
Airport History
Sunshine Coast Airport is owned and operated by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. It is the principal airport of the Sunshine Coast region and supports regular public transport (RPT) and a variety of general aviation (GA) aircraft activities. Sunshine Coast Airport, is situated on the coastal strip 5 kms north of Maroochydore, and is approximately equidistant between Caloundra to the south and Noosa Heads to the north.
A summary of the Airport’s history is listed below:
- The airport was constructed to a sealed Fokker Friendship (F27) standard by Maroochy Shire Council and was officially opened on Saturday 12th August, 1961.
- The original runway was 4500ft (1371.6m) long and 100ft (30m) wide. A small terminal building and a gravel secondary runway 2200ft (670m) long were also provided in the original development. The main runway was later extended to 5500ft (1676m).
- Night lighting was provided in 1974 and the first Airport Master Plan was prepared in 1976.
- In 1979, a new terminal building was constructed.
- The main runway was extended to 1797m and strengthened, and the runway strip widened to 150m to accommodate Fokker Fellowship F28 aircraft in 1983. Coinciding with this work, the Department of Aviation relocated their navigation aids from Nambour to the airport.
- During 1993 Council undertook substantial runway upgrading work on the main runway 18/36, the main taxiways and the RPT apron with the intention of lifting operating restrictions on Boeing B737 type aircraft.
- Council constructed a new terminal building in 1997 (with associated landside infrastructure) with a floor area of some 5500m2. This is the terminal building in use today.
- This terminal allows for a peak hour throughput of 850 arriving and departing passengers, with a total throughput allowance of 1,000,000 passengers per year.
- The building includes 2 baggage claim devices, public lounge areas and public amenities, a public viewing area, and a number of shops and cafes.
- The external work included extensive public car parking, bus, taxi and limousine and rental car accommodation and significant landscaping.
- The airport is a security designated airport and screening is carried out for all services by passenger jet aircraft.
- 2006 saw another upgrade to the main runway 18/36, with a major restrengthening project, including regrooving, occurring in the early part of that year. Reconfiguration of the current main apron to allow the provision for 3 Boeing 737 / Airbus A320 on the ground at one time occurred in 2008.
- Previously, services were provided by Qantas and Qantas Link, Ansett and Sunshine Express. Over the years the airport has been serviced by East West, Ansett, Qantas, Qantas link and Sunshine Express Airlines. The airport is currently serviced by Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways.
