Slowdown frees up airport to ramp up $18 million runway works
Strict border rules in play:
CAIRNS Airport is looking to scale back operations at its international terminal as it tries to cope with minimal flights from overseas.
Air Niugini is the only international carrier regularly landing at the airport, as border closures result in other airlines temporarily halting activities in the Far North.
Cairns Airport chief executive Norris Carter said parts of the international terminal would be closed in coming days, as the airport tries to adapt to the unfolding COVID-19 crisis.
“I know some people have talked about a complete shutdown, but it’s not,” he said.
“There are still some officers in there, and Border Force.
“There will be a few flights coming in, particularly from Papua New Guinea, so we will remain open and service those flights.”
He said the airport had not needed to stand any staff down, other than those working for individual airlines which have wound down their local operations.
“We really feel for those people, and it’s the same for some of our retailers,” he said.
“We’re just working with security and cleaning suppliers to see what they need to do.”
The silver lining for the airport with the lack of flights has meant a larger window for construction crews to commence its $18 million runway works program late next month, allowing it to be completed sooner.
The works are routine maintenance carried out every 12 years and will be carried out in stages.
“That’s 100 workers over six weeks, basically resurfacing the runway,” Mr Carter said,
“It’s made it easier to do that project, because we can now have a longer operating window with fewer flights, because that work gets done overnight.”