Sunshine Airport

Sunshine Airport is the first course of the Star Cup in Mario Kart 8 and the first airport course in the Mario Kart series. It takes place in an airport on an island. Airplanes can be seen parked and taking off. Sunshine Airport is themed after Super Mario Sunshine. It has references to Shine Sprites visible throughout the course, as well as a reference to Super Mario Sunshine in the course's name (due to the word "Sunshine" in "Sunshine Airport"). The course physics are altered in 200cc, with the ramps with boost panels propelling players at a shorter distance.

Course layout
The course begins in the terminal. After a hairpin turn, players will exit the terminal by taking a jump onto the Tarmac. After this, there is a small jump over a conveyor belt, after which the track proceeds under a 747. Once passing under the 747, a ramp leads to a raised track which then turns left. The track then splits into two alternate paths; one where a jump can be taken onto the wing of a plane, proceed through it and come out on the other wing, or one where the jump is not taken so the player drives under the plane. Shortly after, players will take a left turn, and then hit some boost panels leading to a gliding section, where a plane flies over the lead racer. This plane changes every lap. The gilding section travels up into a an anti-gravity section suspended in the air, which loops around a three quarter turn, into to another gliding section. Players descend, land on the ground outside the terminal, then turn left and re-enter the terminal. There is one last right turn to the finish line.

At the finish, on the right a board can be seen, including names of other tracks, being among others Dry Dry Desert and Sweet Sweet Canyon. On the screens around the inside of the airport, a list of departures to other courses, such as Shy Guy Falls and Thwomp Ruins, can be seen. Posters of Water Park can also be seen.

When under a plane, sounds in the game get quieter.

Shortcuts

 * One can cut off the left turn before the first gliding section if one uses a speed boosting item in the correct place.
 * The left turn into the terminal can be cut off if one boosts through the grass.
 * One can drive through an area with conveyors carrying luggage cutting off the final turn. The crates may contain Mushrooms.

References to the Mario series

 * At one point a couple of the Koopa rock formations from Koopa Troopa Beach in Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart 7 can be seen in the background.
 * There are some storage crates in Sunshine Airport with the serial number "55402MS". This serial number is a possible reference to the European release date for Super Mario Sunshine (October 4th, 2002; MS, possibly standing for "Mario Sunshine.")
 * There is an intercom in the airport which makes references to Birdo, Sweet Sweet Canyon, and Dolphin Shoals. The following lines, alluding to the said elements, can be heard within the station:
 * "This is the final boarding call for Boomerang Bros. International Airline, Flight 117a to Sweet Sweet Canyon, departing from Gate 3."
 * This is inconsistent with the board before the finish line, which says flight "Sweet Sweet Canyon BBIA 4300."
 * "Passengers departing on Galaxy Airlines, Flight 2580, bound for Dolphin Shoals, should proceed to customs and immigration at this time."
 * "Paging Galaxy Airlines, Flight 2218, passenger Ms. Birdo, please proceed to the information counter on Floor 2."

Trivia

 * The jetliners that are all around the airport resemble the Boeing 737, Boeing 747, and Boeing 777 series of aircraft.
 * A Mario Kart TV broadcasting van can be seen on the right hand side approaching the conveyor belt on the runway. It follows the nearest player's movement.