The newly refurbished Bureta Airport runway in Ovalau welcomed its first flight this morning.

The Bureta Airport runway was closed earlier this month for upgrades with the Northern Air landing on the newly sealed airstrip.

The upgrade of the newly opened airstrip was valued at $500,000.

Fiji Airports Chief Executive Faiz Khan says this demonstrates the ongoing commitment by Fiji Airports to provide long term benefit for Fijians living in remote areas.

He adds Fiji Airports will continue to develop their network of airports and their team is now heading to Lakeba in the Lau group to carry out runway upgrades.

Fiji Airports will carry out runway refurbishments in Lakeba, Kadavu and Labasa over the next six months.

He adds Fiji Airports made a cash loss of $18.9 million in the running of its network of airports at Nausori and the outer islands.