Fed-up Newman wants fix to runway row

An artist's impression of what Brisbane Airport in Queensland may look like in the future: Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

PREMIER Campbell Newman has slammed delays at Brisbane Airport and urged the Federal Government to intervene to end the impasse between the operators and airlines over funding of a new runway.

Speaking on Radio 4BC, Mr Newman said the delays were "out of control".

Airport chief: Why airlines should help airport pay for new runway

"Anyone who flies regularly will tell you, you're just delayed. Every flight to Brisbane I've been on, you end up circling for at least 30-minutes. This is in the afternoon," Mr Newman said.

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"The cost to business and the economy must be immense."

In response to The Courier-Mail's report that a new parallel runway could be delayed beyond 2020 if airlines do not agree to start paying up now, Mr Newman said an agreement must be reached.

"Please we need an end to the impasse," said the Premier.

"I don't know if the Federal Government themselves have powers to come in and intervene now... but if there is some power mechanism for the Federal Government to come and say "righto we're making a call here", the sooner the better."

He said the privately owned Brisbane Airport Corporation should be aware the current situation was "hurting their brand".

"I say to the airport, you are hurting your brand, you are frustrating your customers who come through, you are forcing people to take their journeys in a different way," Mr Newman said.

"I'm sure for example for many people, they look at going in and out of the Gold Coast."

Brisbane Airport Corporation wants airlines to start paying for the new runway way but the airlines do not way to pay until it is operational in 2020.

On Monday, The Courier-Mail revealed the BAC would delay the next stage of works on the runway if the funding stand-off was not resolved.

Adding to congestion at the increasingly busy airport, has been the closure of the cross runway since September.

It is not due to reopen until next month, weather permitting.

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