Possible Plan for Sydney Jetbase

[doug606]

Fourth terminal for Sydney Airport on drawing board as competition looms (http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/fourth-terminal-for-sydney-airport-on-drawing-board-as-competition-looms-20170529-gwfzt9.html)

[doug606]

A fourth terminal at Sydney Airport for international travellers that is connected to the existing domestic terminals is part of plans to help it cope with strong passenger growth and a competing airport at Badgerys Creek in the city's west.

According to the preliminary plans, Terminal 4 would be on the site of Qantas' jet base sandwiched between Terminal 3 and Qantas Drive on the airport's perimeter.

A pier for the new terminal would also extend south from the domestic precinct, while "remote aprons" could be built near the northern boundary in Airport Drive.

A month after turning down its "right of first refusal" to build and operate the new airport at Badgerys Creek, Sydney Airport chairman Trevor Gerber told shareholders that three years of consultation with the federal government over Western Sydney Airport had forced it to develop detailed plans to expand its existing operations.

"We think the demand is clearly there, too."

The number of passengers passing through Australia's largest airport rose almost 6 per cent to 41.9 million last year, underpinned by a strong growth in travellers from China and other parts of Asia.

While a fourth terminal is part of the long-term plans, the airport's priority for the next five years is a $500 million expansion of the international terminal that will include three new gates, air bridges and an expansion of baggage-claim areas.

A fourth terminal at the airport will be built on what is now the Qantas jet base.

Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said the timeframe for construction of Terminal 4 depended on continued growth in passenger demand and the ability to redevelop the Qantas jet base, on which the airline had a long-term lease until 2020.

"It would be difficult to put a timeline on [development of Terminal Four]. It will depend on demand and a precursor is being able to access the jet base," she said.

The removal of the jet base to allow for construction of the new terminal will require the relocation of Qantas hangars to other parts of the airport, most likely to its south-east, near the third runway and General Holmes Drive.

The hangars at the jet base are used mostly for aircraft maintenance.

Sydney Airport bought back the long-term lease on Terminal 3 from Qantas almost two years ago for $535 million; it had been due to expire in 2019. As part of the deal, the airport gave Qantas assurances about it having access to T3 until 2025.

Ms Mather, who revealed in March her plans to leave the top job once a replacement is found, said a new terminal would "provide new, international gates adjoining" T2 and T3.

"It is important these plans remain flexible, and that we deliver an integrated solution for passengers, terminal connectivity and ground access," she said.

She cautioned there was a "whole range of planning" scenarios to consider before construction of a new terminal could begin.

Six years ago, the airport unveiled plans to break the divide between the domestic and international terminals by creating two airline-based precincts.

Under that $1 billion-plus proposal, Qantas, Jetstar and the group's alliance partners were to be housed under one roof at the domestic terminals T2 and T3, while Virgin Australia would shift all its operations from T2 to the international terminal.

However, the airport quietly dropped the plans less than a year later because Virgin believed the move would place it at a significant disadvantage to Qantas.

Virgin's opposition was based on the argument that its passengers would take longer to drive from the central city to its operations if they were based at T1.

[Horatio Leafblower]

They obviously have reason to believe that a larger proportion of the 80 movements/hour will somehow magically become allocated to International operators.

I keep looking at that IPEC office at DOM4. Wouldn't that make a great facility for small regional carriers?

....you know, the ones that all got driven out of business by ever-increasing compliance costs and administrative complexity and Airport fees?

[Bootstrap1]

Journalism at its best.

"The hangars at the jet base are used mostly for aircraft maintenance."

You don't say

[Chris2303]

Journalism at its best.

"The hangars at the jet base are used mostly for aircraft maintenance."

You don't say

Could it be that the journalist actually knows the difference between "maintenance" and "defect rectification requiring hangarage"?

[SHVC]

Where will staff park? Looks like blue emu is not apart of the big plan

[Keg]

I'm sure this was all announced circa 2010 as part of the ten year forward plan. Can't see it being in place for 2020.

[neville_nobody]

I'm sure this was all announced circa 2010 as part of the ten year forward plan. Can't see it being in place for 2020.

Most of it got scuttled when Frank Lowy took them to court and won which meant that T2 extensions couldnt happen until Lowy's lease expired. Then they wanted to align the terminals with alliance partners but that got canned. Then there was supposed to be a new maintenance hangar built which looks like it will now be T4.

[Keg]

Ah, that's right. The big maintenance hangar down near intersection of Charlie and B10. Doesn't matter if it's terminal or maintenance hangar. Both will suck for 16L arrivals with a SW wind blowing.

[unobtanium]

Where will staff park? Looks like blue emu is not apart of the big plan

Somewhere near Heathcote.

[Bootstrap1]

Thats right the big 777 capable hangar that Borghetti promised when he went to Virgin. That went quiet pretty quick.