TOOWOOMBA Regional Enterprise chief executive Shane Charles arrived at the Toowoomba Airport yesterday after 20 minutes in the air to declare the city "open to the world".

Mr Charles was one of several business leaders to accompany Mayor Peter Taylor and Deputy Premier Paul Lucas on a Skytrans flight from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

It marked the official opening of the $10 million airport upgrade.

"Finally, Toowoomba has moved into the 21st century," Mr Charles said.

He said the airport upgrade should be seen as a "first step" towards a larger, regional airport servicing Toowoomba and the Surat Basin.

Skytrans used the occasion to confirm that flights from Toowoomba to Sydney would start in July.

"The local business community has lobbied for these services for some time, so it is our great pleasure, after many months of due diligence, to make this announcement here in Toowoomba," managing director Simon Wild said.

Plans are to start with six return flights weekly to Sydney, increasing to 10 in the first year of operation.

Details of pricing and final scheduling will be released during April.