Moranbah Airport $46 Million Upgrade Officially Opened Thursday as More FIFO Flights Announced

The Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney flew into Moranbah Airport on board the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP bizjet VH-SGY on Thursday 21 February, to officially open the $46 million Moranbah Airport upgrade.

The upgraded Moranbah Airport can support an estimated 110 flights each week, and Mr Seeney was talking up the upgrade saying that it was another example of the benefits the resources sector brought to Queensland's regional and remote communities.

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) funded the expansion which includes the new terminal (divided into two sections for public passengers and for Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) passengers, new pick-up and drop-off areas, parking and significantly improved road access.  Mr Seeney welcomed and thanked BMA for its investment on behalf of the community.

The upgraded Moranbah Airport will service BMA's new projects at Caval Ridge and Daunia, as well as the existing mines, but importantly it allows for more flights for residents of Moranbah and the wider region.

Aircraft movements through Moranbah have risen rapidly in recent years from an average of 13 flights weekly in 2010-11 to as many as 80 return flights - both scheduled passenger and FIFO charter flights - in the current financial year.

And the growth at Moranbah Airport is expected to continue as BMA announced this week their intention to staff the Caval Ridge and Daunia mines solely with FIFO workers from both Cairns and Brisbane.