Laguna Quays 3 Airport

Economic failure. The airport was a private facility built exclusively to serve the luxury Laguna Quays resort. When the resort, which opened in 1992, failed to attract its projected visitor numbers and suffered from the early 1990s recession, it entered a long period of financial decline. The high operational costs of the airport made it unsustainable as the resort's core hotel and other facilities were shuttered. The airport's closure was a direct consequence of the resort's commercial collapse.

The airport is completely abandoned and derelict. The runway, taxiways, and apron remain visible but are in a state of severe disrepair. The pavement is weathered and cracked, with significant vegetation growth encroaching from all sides. The facility is fenced off and inaccessible, mirroring the abandoned state of the greater resort complex. It is not used for any purpose.

The airport was a key and ambitious feature of the original $250 million Laguna Quays resort development. Its purpose was to provide an exclusive gateway for wealthy tourists and private jet owners, allowing them to fly directly to the Whitsunday coast. The 1,600-meter (5,250 ft) paved runway was capable of handling corporate jets and regional airliners such as the BAe 146 and Fokker F28. During its peak, it handled private and charter flights, with reports of charter services being operated by Ansett Australia, linking the resort to major Australian cities.

There are active plans for reopening, but they remain speculative. In 2022, the Laguna Quays resort was purchased by a new developer (Timudg Pty Ltd) who has proposed a major multi-stage redevelopment of the entire site. These plans explicitly include the full refurbishment and reopening of the airport to once again serve as a private air access point for the new luxury resort. However, the project is in the early planning and approval stages and is contingent on securing massive funding. Given the site's history of failed revival attempts, the prospect of the airport reopening is uncertain and long-term.