Sunshine airport undergoing tech upgrade

Sunshine Coast Airport is installing new equipment to help better facilitate international flights to help better accommodate increased international traffic.

The airport must currently bring the technology required to support the clearance of seasonal international flights in from Brisbane. With its own equipment this will no longer be required.

As part of the upgrade the airport is implementing a closed-circuit television network, electronic examination facilities and trace detection technologies, among other equipment, in line with the government's border security focus.

The upgrade is expected to be complete in the middle of the year.

The technology project has a budget of around $1 million, which will be taken from the $23.8 million over four years allocated in the 2015–16 budget to support the expansion of the Sunshine Coast and Townsville airports.

Next financial year the airport will also install departure eGates, in line with Australia's other major airports.

Further improvements to the Gold Coast Airport's international gate lounge will be implemented over the next three years.

"What this investment really highlights is the government’s belief in the growth potential of the Sunshine Coast," LNP candidate for Fairfax Ted O'Brien said.

"The funding shows that we are working with local industry to provide an international airport facility that meets international aviation and security standards."

Image courtesy of Simon_sees under CC