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D7 moves from MEL to AVV
Avalon Airport secures AirAsia to operate first international service PATRICK HATCH FEBRUARY 01, 2018 Victoria could have a second international airport by the end of this year, with Avalon Airport securing AirAsia to operate its first overseas services. Avalon Airport airport and AirAsia will on Sunday announce that the Malaysian carrier will move its twice daily return service between Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport and Kuala Lumpur to Avalon. An aircraft from Air Asia X. SHARE Share on Facebook SHARE Share on Twitter TWEET Link An aircraft from Air Asia X. The airport, 15 kilometres north-east of Geelong and 50 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, will need to build an international terminal and secure immigration, quarantine and Border Force agencies. Avalon and AirAsia believe the service could be operating by late 2018, it is understood. The federal government amended Avalon's lease in 2015 to allow it to build an international terminal, or expand its existing terminal to accommodate international operations. It also has approval to construct additional runways and can offer unrestricted access to international carriers. The airport has long had ambitions to operate international flights, and hopes it can attract other airlines once its has built the infrastrucutre for AirAsia. The Victorian and federal governments are expected to help fund the necessary infrastructure and services at the airport, which is owned by the logistics giant Linfox. Avalon Airport, AirAsia and Melbourne Airport would not comment on Thursday. The relevant state and federal ministers could not respond by deadline. Avalon's 2015 master plan forecasts that domestic passenger numbers could grow to 7.25 million a year by 2031. It currently has about 500,000 passengers a year. Avalon has been operating as a commercial airport since 2004 but is currently only serviced by Qantas' low-cost arm Jetstar flying to Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and the Gold Coast. The future of Jetstar's operations had to be secured by a deal with the Victorian government in 2015 worth $12 million over 10 years. Commencing international flights from Avalon means Melbourne will beat Sydney in the race to have a second operational international airport, with the northern capital's $5 billion-plus Badgery Creek airport not due to open until 2026. Melbourne Airport expects its passenger numbers to double from 35 million to 70 million a year over the next two decades, and wants to build a third runway to handle the extra capacity. A train link to Avalon has been on the cards for some time, with Ted Baillieu's Victorian Coalition pledging $50 million to plan and begin construction on a rail line while in opposition in 2010. In government in 2014, the Coalition released a preferred route, to link with the existing train track between Melbourne and Geelong, and put a $200 million price tag on the project |
I think you'll find that the tower will be open when they operate in and out. It'll be during the airshow that things will get interesting.
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The airshow has been operating with regular JQ flights for a number of events. A few extra D7 flights won't make too much of an issue.
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So two scheduled airshows per week & one more every two years.
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Originally Posted by Airbus A320321
(Post 10039222)
I think you'll find that the tower will be open when they operate in and out. It'll be during the airshow that things will get interesting.
Operating a Tower outside of hours will usually involve cost past onto the airline. Something most LCC will take the risk on and avoid. Correct me of wrong, but I think JQ is the only major Jet carrier operating CTAF in the country. I know Tiger put a stop to it when things went wrong. |
Correct me of wrong, but I think JQ is the only major Jet carrier operating CTAF in the country. |
Originally Posted by PoppaJo
(Post 10039331)
Don’t be so sure. Jetstar operate numerous flights at AVV in CFAF.
Operating a Tower outside of hours will usually involve cost past onto the airline. Something most LCC will take the risk on and avoid. Correct me of wrong, but I think JQ is the only major Jet carrier operating CTAF in the country. I know Tiger put a stop to it when things went wrong. |
Originally Posted by Falling Leaf
Airline CTAF operations in Australia are unfortunately all too common.
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Is there any CASA requirement for any heavy pax movements (A330 and above etc..) to be under Tower control? Could not see anything but surely in the interest of safety.
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Originally Posted by Capn Bloggs
(Post 10039395)
Please explain??
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Outtahere,
i think you meant 2 scheduled airshows per day & one more every two years. |
After ATC closure at Avalon in the 80s, the tower was staffed temporarily for certain aircraft. For example, the F1 GP cars were transported together on a single 747 freighter. Arriving about 2200 and leaving four hours later. ATC was the freight company’s requirement, insurance I think. There was also All Nippon Airlines 767 and 737 training for which the tower was staffed. QANTAS did its training without ATC unless the tower was staffed for another operation.
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Originally Posted by Lead Balloon
Wagga, Griffith, Narrandera, Dubbo, Mildura ... plenty of fingers and toes to go.
Wagga... lemme think about that one... |
Tiger have been operating into Proserpine for quite some time
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All the 747 freighters that have been flying into AVV for the GP all operated on the CTAF.
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So the governments will fork out to move existing services from one airport to another one further out. Unfortunately they can’t be bothered helping airports trying to start new services and diversify away from the cities. It’s all about who you know....
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Yes, the interesting part of that story is that our taxes will help fund it.
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Virgin operate 737’s into Mildura CTAF.
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Apparently, D7 want to connect AVV to Bali and Bangkok too with other carriers including Scoot and Hong Kong Airlines floating around too
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AVV Facilities
Avalon has great facilities have improved greatly over the years but what about SAFETY ISSUES?
1 - Will there be full ATC and Radar facilities available locally to incoming Air Asia and JQ flights or will they still be talking to MEL Radar. Who will check the runway for obstructions (kangaroos?) at dawn and dusk. 2 - Will the closest fire truck still have to come from Lara or Corio in the event of an emergency involving 150+ passengers and crew? (QANTAS fire engines have been moved from the old MOC I believe.) 3 - The same question regarding ambulance services? JQ must operate into out of AVV under some waiver or other. But with increased high density Air Asia flights - How does that work and does the Fox Corporation have enough insurance in the event of an incident? Would this lack of safety services at an Airport offering scheduled passenger flights be acceptable in any other modern country in the world? Is it acceptable here or do we have to wait for a disaster or near disaster to discuss it further. |
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