By NOEL MURPHY
DARRYN Lyons’ controversial Giddyup billboard has been replaced with another just as loud – a giant pitch to keep Jetstar at Avalon, complete with the Geelong mayor in lurid red sunglasses.
‘Avalon. Don’t let this one depart’, the sign exhorts motorists passing the Hovells Creek billboard near Lara.
The new push to boost Jetstar business at Avalon follows an $11 million package to keep the beleaguered Qantas discount carrier using the airport until April.
“It’s as simple as use it or lose it. Geelong businesses, families, anyone who travels to and from Sydney, give Avalon some love!” he said.
The airport, considered vital to Geelong’s economic future, has been under siege in recent months.
The Independent revealed last month that Jetstar’s local patronage had fallen from 60 to 20 per cent since inception.
The airline has reduced services, with Sydney now the only destination from Avalon.
The airport has also shed 800 Qantas mainenance jobs, plans for a $50 million rail spur line remain in limbo and an international carrier is yet to materialise.
Jetstar Australia and New Zealand chief David Hall last week told Geelong business leaders Avalon flights would remain “fundamentally unsustainable”. His use-it-or-lose-it warning echoed Committee for Geelong chair Dan Simmonds’ call in the Independent for greater local patronage of the airline.
Cr Lyons said he would email local businesses, urging them to switch from Tullamarine to Avalon for Sydney flights.
“If we want to keep Jetstar at Avalon we need to fill flights,” he said.
“At the moment Jetstar has five flights to Sydney a day. I urge anyone planning a trip to Sydney or who has a stopover in Sydney to support our local airport – it’s a short drive and parking’s a breeze.
“Ideally, we’d like to see more flights to more locations but in order to attract more services we need to show the demand is there.”
“We’re all in this together, so we need to support our local industry to create and retain jobs, attract new businesses and prosper overall.”
