Jetstar pax in for long airport wait
Fri "Herald Sun"
Passengers in for long airport wait
JETSTAR passengers who take the bus to Avalon airport will be inconvenienced by long waiting times, the Opposition claimed yesterday. Liberal transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the issue could deter travellers from using the airport.
Jetstar flights from Avalon to Sydney and Brisbane will start next Tuesday, a week after the cut-price airline's main launch.
Five return bus services will run daily between Avalon and Spencer St station to connect with flights.
Passengers will need to catch the bus almost 2 1/2 hours before their flight to meet Jetstar's strict check-in rules.
Qantas's leisure carrier wants buses at Avalon 90 minutes before planes depart so passengers can check in at least half an hour before flights.
Mr Mulder said hanging around for 90 minutes at the airport after taking a 50 -minute bus trip could put off travellers.
"You need a service that will attract passengers down there," he said.
"I would call on Jetstar and Avalon to negotiate the 90-minute wait down."
Mr Mulder said good bus links were vital because most budget travellers couldn't afford the $70 taxi fare to Avalon from the city.
He said he strongly supported Jetstar and Avalon, but wanted to ensure their success through good transport connections.
A one-way trip on Sunbus Avalon Airport Shuttle will cost $12.
Sunbus is run by the Footscray-based Sita group, which beat Melbourne airport shuttle company Skybus for the Avalon tender.
Sita general manager Dominic Sita said buses arriving at Avalon 90 minutes before flights was not unreasonable.
Many travellers preferred to arrive early and it was good to have a buffer in case of traffic delays on the Geelong road.
"I think it will work well," he said.
Avalon airport general manager Tim Anderson said the bus service would be monitored closely. "If we find that it needs improvement we will quickly react ," he said.
Mr Anderson said he expected most passengers to arrive by car, with the airport providing a 900-space carpark.
Skybus general manager Simon Cowen said Jetstar's 90-minute rule for buses was unfortunate. "It's not going to be a great service as it is," Mr Cowen said.
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