Airtart
23rd Aug 2002, 04:56
FROM SMH: 23.08.02
Sydney Airports Corp and Qantas Airways Ltd today said they had reached agreement on the long term use by Qantas and QantasLink of the former Ansett domestic terminal.
Qantas will use six of the 18 gates in the terminal on a first right basis in accordance with Sydney Airport's common use gate allocation criteria.
"The agreement acknowledges Qantas' need for additional gate capacity at the same time as it recognises Sydney Airports' requirement that the terminal operates on common use principles which will allow access by other parties such as Virgin Blue, Regional Express, or a new domestic entrant," Sydney Airports Corp said.
Sydney Airports Corp chief executive officer Tony Stuart said that it took this opportunity to invite Virgin Blue to reopen negotiations and to discuss access to the terminal.
"This is an excellent result for both parties, providing Sydney Airport with a core terminal partner, flexibility of terminal use as a whole and Qantas with certainty and growth potential," he said.
"Above all, it is a win for travellers and our tourism industry partners."
QantasLink will base the majority of its Boeing 717 fleet in the former Ansett Terminal and will have the ability to use the terminal for other aircraft as required. Qantas estimates an annual throughput in excess of two million passengers.
The terms of the agreement remain confidential to the parties.
The terminal will be operational as planned from September 2 and Qantas was expected to commence operations by mid September.
Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said earlier this month that the Macquarie Bank-led Sydney Airports Corporation had agreed to allow Virgin to lease 40 per cent of the the Ansett terminal for $18-18.5 million a year for 15 years.
Sydney Airports Corp has said there was never any "confirmed deal" with Virgin on the Ansett terminal and no price had been set.
Macquarie Airports managing director Kerri Mather said today the agreement reached between Sydney Airports Corp and Qantas was a significant milestone for the domestic aviation industry.
Macquarie Airports has a total interest of 44.7 per cent in Sydney Airport.
AAP
Sydney Airports Corp and Qantas Airways Ltd today said they had reached agreement on the long term use by Qantas and QantasLink of the former Ansett domestic terminal.
Qantas will use six of the 18 gates in the terminal on a first right basis in accordance with Sydney Airport's common use gate allocation criteria.
"The agreement acknowledges Qantas' need for additional gate capacity at the same time as it recognises Sydney Airports' requirement that the terminal operates on common use principles which will allow access by other parties such as Virgin Blue, Regional Express, or a new domestic entrant," Sydney Airports Corp said.
Sydney Airports Corp chief executive officer Tony Stuart said that it took this opportunity to invite Virgin Blue to reopen negotiations and to discuss access to the terminal.
"This is an excellent result for both parties, providing Sydney Airport with a core terminal partner, flexibility of terminal use as a whole and Qantas with certainty and growth potential," he said.
"Above all, it is a win for travellers and our tourism industry partners."
QantasLink will base the majority of its Boeing 717 fleet in the former Ansett Terminal and will have the ability to use the terminal for other aircraft as required. Qantas estimates an annual throughput in excess of two million passengers.
The terms of the agreement remain confidential to the parties.
The terminal will be operational as planned from September 2 and Qantas was expected to commence operations by mid September.
Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said earlier this month that the Macquarie Bank-led Sydney Airports Corporation had agreed to allow Virgin to lease 40 per cent of the the Ansett terminal for $18-18.5 million a year for 15 years.
Sydney Airports Corp has said there was never any "confirmed deal" with Virgin on the Ansett terminal and no price had been set.
Macquarie Airports managing director Kerri Mather said today the agreement reached between Sydney Airports Corp and Qantas was a significant milestone for the domestic aviation industry.
Macquarie Airports has a total interest of 44.7 per cent in Sydney Airport.
AAP