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Brisbane Airport is set to embark on major maintenance works on its original runway.
The 12-week overhaul, set to begin on 24 June, will replace 18 aging concrete slabs on the runway threshold that have reached the end of their life. The runway will be shortened from 3.5km to 2.7km during the works, meaning larger international aircraft will need to use Brisbane’s parallel runway.
“We understand that this will affect some people living in nearby communities and we apologise, but this is essential work to keep us all safe and connected to the world,” said Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff.
Around 1000 square metres of concrete will be replaced, with works to take place at one end of the runway before switching to the other. The existing slabs will be demolished and the concrete repoured, followed by the reinstallation of aviation lighting and repainting of runway markings.
Smaller jets such as those used on domestic services will be able to continue using the current runway during the works, but around 30 international wide-body flights per day will be moved to the new parallel runway, around six of which will be between the hours of 10pm and 6am.
According to Peter Doherty, Brisbane Airport’s media and corporate affairs manager, these international flights “connect Queensland to the world” with both passengers and air freight.
“Halting international travel isn’t an option for Queenslanders, our tourism industry, or exporters. We all remember the impact of closing Queensland during the pandemic. This connectivity is essential for our State,” he said.
“It’s taken two years to rebuild the list of international destinations on offer to Queenslanders, now back to 30 direct locations from 26 international airlines.”
The runway works are part of Brisbane Airport’s $50 billion transformation program, with a major three-year refurbishment of its domestic terminal having begun in November.
Projects will include an overhaul of the international terminal, continued planning for a new Terminal 3 precinct, aircraft parking and apron expansions, runway resurfacing, and a new aeromedical facility so medical repatriation and emergency services can be centralised at the airport.
Brisbane’s original runway was laid down in the 1980s and resurfaced in 2016. Works are expected to complete in September, weather permitting.
