WHITSUNDAY Regional Council has bought $160,000 worth of new state-of-the-art security screening equipment for Whitsunday Coast Airport, as part of Council taking over the security screening authority at Whitsunday Coast Airport from today, Wednesday September 10.

Mayor Jenny Whitney said the new equipment would provide a safer travelling environment at the airport.

"This new state-of-the-art equipment provides a more accurate and safer screening service for the passengers travelling through the Whitsunday Coast Airport," she said

"This is another step in developing the airport with the aim of upgrading the airport to international status as the Whitsunday Coast International Export Hub.

"Qantas Airways have made a business decisions to hand back screening point authority responsibility to airports, a decision Council fully supports.

"From an operational perspective it allows for greater on the ground engagement with our security partners in delivering a seamless airport screening process.

"Council's investment in the new screening equipment, places the airport on par with country's major airports by way of technology.

"The new security screening equipment includes a new x-ray screening point which has dual view x-ray screening, meaning the security screeners will now be able to view a horizontal and vertical x-ray view of luggage.

"There is also a new walk through metal detector which has more accurate pin-pointing of metal objects that the previous machine."