The hair was big, the shoulder pads were bigger, Crocodile Dundee was on the big screen and John Farnham had just released You're the Voice. And at Ballina's new airport, a crowd of 2,000 gathered to watch the first commercial flight touch down.
On Monday 26 October 2026, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport turns 40. Since that first flight, it has welcomed more than 10 million passengers - and counting.
Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the airport is a testament to investing in the future all those years ago. "Ballina Byron Gateway Airport started as a big idea for a small shire, and it has grown into something the whole Northern Rivers can be proud of."
The airport's journey started back in 1980 when Council was looking to purchase land north of Ballina. Former Shire President Graham Ellis recalls Shire Engineer Peter Thorpe suggesting that the land could "maybe be an airport one day".
Council bought the land, and the airport was designed and built by Council's own team. The construction and subsequent runway extension earned Council a national award for innovation in 1989.
Annual passenger numbers grew from around 16,500 in 1987/88 to close to 600,000 in 2025/26. Over the years, the terminal has been expanded twice and the runway upgraded to handle today's modern aircraft.
Today, airline partners Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia offer direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne, with onward connections across Australia and overseas.
The airport has grown with the Northern Rivers, bringing visitors to the region, connecting the business community and making it easier for people to visit family and friends. It also serves as a critical hub for emergency services when the region needs it most.
Airport Manager Julie Stewart said it's truly a team effort to keep the airport running smoothly the past four decades. "We have our airport staff, tenants, airline partners and, most of all, our community to thank for how far the airport has come in 40 years."
