Avalon pushing ahead with international bid

Andrew Mathieson
Jetstar put aside concerns about a price war when it encouraged Avalon Airport to seek a second budget carrier so the facility could secure its future, according to the airport’s owner.
Linfox airports executive chairman David Fox said Tiger Airway’s decision to fly out of Avalon Airport had consolidated plans for a facility expansion.
Mr Fox revealed Jetstar put petty rivalry between the low-cost airlines aside to make Avalon work better.
“They see true value in the asset and they have been really supportive of us expanding the presence to other airlines like Tiger,” he said.
“Now that we have two players out there, it does lay the stronger foundations for future growth.”
Avalon Airport is proposing a facelift to existing facilities to attract more airlines, but a deal struck with Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia X fell through when Federal Government knocked back plans for an international terminal in 2008.
Mr Fox said Linfox’s long-term strategy still remained to fly overseas to “add value into the asset”, which included building a hotel to service the airport.
Avalon planned to continue pushing for an international terminal but was prepared to send travellers through its domestic facility, he said.
“We’re identifying the best opportunities at the moment.
“We need to build a new facility – if we can create a multi-user, domestic/international terminal then we’ll do so, just whatever is the most cost-effective at the time.”
Airport general manager Justin Giddings revealed to the Independent in December that Avalon would consider a one-user terminal plan for both domestic and overseas flights.
Discussions with Federal Government after failing to secure approval for an international airport had led to a “compromise” on the terminal, he said.
But Mr Fox denied that inadequate security was behind the failed bid to win federal support for an international terminal.
Member for Corio Richard Marles recently suggested the airport would need to improve security for customs, immigration and quarantine requirements.
Roger Henning, a security expert, publicly identified Avalon at the top of a list of Australian regional airports vulnerable to threats of security breaches.
“It’s got nothing to do with security,” Mr Fox said.
“We have exceed all security levels within the environment required.”