THE $1.8 million upgrade works proposed for the Labasa Airport officially started yesterday.
All Labasa-bound flights will now be diverted to Savusavu Airport until September 13 provided good weather prevails during the duration.
Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) general manager Lawrence Liew said the airport was closed at 6am as the contractor, Road Sealing Services Limited, started work at the site.
"Labasa is a key airport in the north and we understand the inconvenience it will cause but safety is paramount, thus it's only proper we fix the runway," Mr Liew said in a statement. "The scope of work will include substrata improvements, drainage enhancement and remarking of the runway."
He said at the moment there was no provision for the installation of floodlights for night landing in view of the terrain and unpredictable winds that could pose a danger to night operations. "The contractors under AFL supervision will be working on the project on a 24-hour basis and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents of Vanua Levu."