Townsville Airport is located 5km’s from Townsville city centre on a plain between Rowes Bay and the Bohle River. It is fully owned by Queensland Airports Limited and is operated under an agreement with the Deparment of Defence which allows 81 hecatares to be used for civil aviation purposes. Townsville Airport was the first airport located on the Ross River and was licenced for use in 1930. However, Qantas did not start commercial flights to the airport until 1980. The airport has recently received a $12 million upgrade which involved an expansion of the ground level and new aerobridges. Unique landscaping and a bright tropical colour scheme creates a welcoming environment that complements the terminals upgrade.