By NOEL MURPHY
Avalon Airport is drastically cutting its landing fees and charges in a bid to lure general aviation following the exit of Qantas maintenance operations at the airfield.
Avalon CEO Justin Giddings said cutting landing fees would attract more aircraft to the airport and grow the mix of light, charter and big jet aircraft operating there.
“We’re known as the home of the Australian International Airshow. We’ll also be known around Australia as one of the best-equipped and most-affordable airports, too,” Mr Giddings said.
“Whether you’re flying a Cessna or an Airbus, Avalon welcomes you.”
The departure of 300 jobs from Avalon in recent weeks – and 1000 over the past decade — has been eclipsed by high-profile aviation announcements by the State Government .
These have included a new Asian airline reportedly eyeing Avalon, announced on the day of the final Qantas staff departures, a new rail link to Melbourne Airport two days later and the fee cuts this week.
Premier Denis Napthine and Aviation Industry Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips have led the charge with the good news as maintenance workers decried their prospects for future work, including complaints a labour hire firm had cut pay rates at Brisbane, stymying their plans to commute and share accommodation in Queensland.
According to Mr Rich-Phillips, the cut-price landing fees of up to 70 per cent will “boost demand for ancillary support services and value-adding pilot training activities, providing real incentives for more pilots” to operate from Avalon.
But the reduced prices are some three years overdue.
A State Government study recommended in 2011 that Avalon be developed as a regional airport after the closure of Geelong Airport at Grovedale to make way for housing growth at Armstrong Creek.
Avalon Airport’s master plan includes a new general aviation runway but the deal to move regional general aviation to Avalon fell through because of capacity restraints and its comparatively high landing fees, industry sources told the Independent last year.
With nowhere else to go, general aviation turned to the grass-strip at Lethbridge Airpark, which underwent a $1 million upgrade including sealing of runways, extra maintenance facilities and creation of a helipad and fuelling area.
As it doesn’t charge landing fees, the new cheaper rates at Avalon aren’t expected to affect its operations.
Mr Rich-Phillips said the new fees would take effect next month.
For light aircraft, the landing fee has been cut from $100 to as low as $30. Training flight fees, for light aircraft pilots to practise runway approaches and departures, are being cut from $20 to $15.
Landing fees for typical medium-sized charter aircraft have been cut from $100 to $60 while bigger corporate jets and airliners see their fees reduced by 15 per cent.
