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Whyalla Airport has cut the ribbon on a $30 million upgrade that will let it service larger aircraft.
The regional airport in South Australia received $16.2 million from the federal government and $13.8 million from the state government to strengthen its main runway, with Whyalla City Council also funding $2.4 million in works including runway lighting upgrades.
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This will allow QantasLink’s new 74-seat Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to fly into Whyalla, increasing seat capacity and reducing flight times.
“This investment by Federal, State and local governments not only supports the future of air travel in Whyalla, but also unlocks new opportunities for economic growth across the region,” QantasLink chief executive Rachel Yangoyan said.
“Our investment in an all-Q400 fleet means larger aircraft flying to and from Whyalla, providing more seats and a faster, more comfortable journey for customers.”
QantasLink is currently the only airline servicing Whyalla Airport after Rex sensationally pulled out in 2023, and is phasing out the smaller Dash 8 turboprop variants from its fleet in favour of more of the larger Q400s. The airline is now operating all regional SA flights from Adelaide with Q400s.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the upgrades will allow “vital services” at Whyalla to continue.
“These upgrades at Whyalla Airport will keep local communities connected, bring visitors in and help maintain a strong regional aviation network for Australia,” she said.
“That’s why the Albanese Government has proudly invested $16.2 million to this project, partnering with the state and local government to deliver for the Whyalla region.”
Peter Malinauskas, Premier of South Australia, added that the upgrades are “a demonstration of [his government’s] confidence in Whyalla’s long-term future”.
“Whyalla Airport services more than 50,000 passengers every year, many of them workers, and this upgrade will ensure the airport can continue its important work,” he said.
A report by the independent Essential Services Commission of SA last year found that Whyalla City Council had become “unsustainable” due in part to the loss of Rex.
In the report, the regulator said the airport’s poor performance was the primary factor behind the council’s debt, which will see it lose $5m between 2023–24 and 2032–33.
Phill Stone, Mayor of Whyalla, who was at the centre of the stoush with Rex in 2023 and accused the airline of defaming his council, said the airport is one of South Australia’s more important regional gateways.
“I’d like to thank the Albanese and Malinauskas governments for their unprecedented financial support of Whyalla’s steelworks and airport, thereby recognising the significance of our city in the prosperity of both the state and the entire nation.
“The airport runway project has provided a major injection for local contractors and employees throughout its construction and will continue to benefit the Whyalla economy for decades to come.”
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