Cornwall Airport Newquay is set to get a £7.8 million upgrade ahead of the G7 summit in June.
The Cornwall Council-owned airport has been given the Government cash to get ready for world leaders to fly in for the summit which is being held at Carbis Bay, St Ives.
Details of the taxpayer funding for the airport were revealed in a late report added to the agenda for a meeting of Cornwall Council on Tuesday, March 23.
The report states that the Government is providing the millions which will be used to carry out upgrades needed so that aircraft carrying world leaders can land at the airport. No details are given about what the works involve.
It says: "The Government has confirmed that the G7 summit will be held in Cornwall in June 2021. Cornwall Airport Newquay will play a major role in this event with the arrival of political leaders from around the world.
"The existing infrastructure at the airport would not support the needs of the aircraft types that will be arriving for this event and significant works are required.
"The council has very recently received notification from the Government’s Cabinet Office that it would be providing grant funding of £7.853m to support required upgrade works at the airport in readiness for the G7 summit."
The report explains that because of the urgency of the works council leader Julian German had made an individual decision yesterday to include the funding in the council's capital programme.
However any increase in the capital programme has to be approved by full council and that will be voted on at the meeting being held on March 23.
The summit will bring together leaders from around the world and Cornwall was chosen to host the event by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
It will be based at the Carbis Bay Hotel where the leaders will stay and also conduct their meetings.
The Tregenna Castle will also provide accommodation for the event and international media facilities are set to be based at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.
As well as Cornwall Airport Newquay being the destination for flights to the G7 the proposed Spaceport Cornwall, which will be located at the airport, is also expected to be highlighted to the world leaders.
More on the G7 Summit:
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