Virgin christens Brisbane Airport’s second runway as borders reopen

Virgin christens Brisbane Airport’s second runway as borders reopen

Virgin Australia christened Brisbane Airport’s new runway over the weekend, kicking off a special celebration of Queensland’s aviation history.

Flight VA781 to Cairns was the first aircraft to depart from Brisbane Airport’s second runway, baptised by a watercannon from Queensland’s Fire and Emergency Services.

An official ribbon-cutting took place on the $1.1 billion dollar strip of asphalt with VIP guests, 150 Brisbane Airport staff members and 10 local plane spotters, who won a place at the event, present to watch the departure.

The 737 was followed by an ariel acrobatics display including a series of linked manoeuvres, V-formation flying, and a tail chase performed by Brisbane based Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights.

In a first for an Australian capital city airport, the space above BNE was closed to allow for the display.

The runway’s opening date coincided with the anniversary of the very first flight between Brisbane and Tropical North Queensland by Barrier Reef Airways, which took off 73 years to the day on 12 July 1947.

The opening also came just two days after Queensland reopened its borders to interstate travel from everywhere in Australia except for Victoria.

“This is more than just a formality and a slab of very expensive asphalt. When I look at that 3.3-kilometre stretch of runway, I see hope,” Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said.

“While current world challenges mean less demand right now, the timing of this opening is fortuitous. Had we been any later, the project may have been delayed significantly creating more burden on the economy and dampening our spirits further.

“Instead, Brisbane is an ideal position to take advantage of all opportunities on the road to recovery from COVID.”

Latest News

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Tourism

Nielsen Data reveals brands spending big to attract Aussie tourists

TripADeal had the biggest outlay of the more than $153 million spent on travel and tourism advertising in Australia in the first quarter of 2024, followed by Virgin Australia and Flight Centre-owned Ignite Travel, new Nielsen Ad Intel data has revealed. And the industry ad spend enjoyed an increase of 8 per cent on the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]

  • Partner Content

My journey: Before becoming a travel agent I was… a palliative care nurse 

Australind Travel & Cruise, Travellers Choice member Saibra Twigg reveals her life as paediatric nurse then to palliative care before a career leap to travel agent. How did you become a palliative care nurse?  ST I went straight from school in nursing and initially specialised in paediatrics, working at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. […]

Partner Content

by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly
  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]