Work has officially begun on Brisbane Airport’s new $1.3 billion runway.

It’s hoped the venture will put the River City in a positive spotlight as a ‘new world’ destination.

But, there is speculation Australia’s biggest airline is still not on board.

Tom Hartley reports.

TRANSCRIPT

It doesn’t look like much now, but this dusty construction site is set to become the answer to frequent flyers’ prayers.

Julieanne Alroe, Brisbane Airport Corporation: “Those things that this airport can control will be world class and offering the best you can possibly have.”

Brisbane Airport says the new leg of the airport should accommodate the predicted boom in passenger numbers.

But it will come at a cost, passenger fees will rise.

Julieanne Alroe, Brisbane Airport Corporation:”We’re doing exactly what the rest of the world does in terms of how you fund infrastructure.”

New departure and landing routes over Moreton Bay, rather than the city, should reduce aircraft noise.

Graham Quirk, Brisbane Mayor: “There is no city in the world with a major airport that doesn’t have aircraft noise, it’s parts of the facts of life.”

Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss, hopes to see an end to flight delays.

Warren Truss, Acting Prime Minister: “I’ve got quite a collection of overnight QANTAS pyjamas as a result of having to spend unscheduled nights in Brisbane.”

Last year more than 26,000 flights in and out of Brisbane were late, forcing aircraft to spend almost 8,000 hours circling.

Brisbane Airport says, come 2020 these delays will be a thing of the past.

Most major airlines are on board But QANTAS still hasn’t budged.

Julieanne Alroe, Brisbane Airport Corporation:”No company’s going to go into a project of that size unless they feel confident they can manage the risk associated with it.”

BAC still says they’re confident they can snag the high fliers.

The runway addition will give Queensland’s growing tourism industry, another kick.

Daniel Gschwind, Qld Tourism Industry Council: “It’s not the airplanes in the end, it’s about the visitors who can come here, it’s about a landing pad for the wealth of this state, for the future of this state.”

Mayor Graham Quirk says it’ll be finished just time.

Graham Quirk, Brisbane Mayor: “With major events like the G20 next year, the name Brisbane, Australia, is going to be out there more and more.”

But it will actually be around eight years before aircraft can call their new runway home.

Tom Hartley, QUT News.