Linfox talks big with $3m Avalon Airport facelift

Linfox talks big with $3m Avalon Airport facelift
The Age, Australia

March 26, 2004

 
Avalon Airport's $3 million facelift was the start of
grander plans for the one-time small private airport,
Linfox Airports general manager Tim Anderson said
yesterday.

Linfox yesterday released a series of artist's
impressions showing how the airport, 55 kilometres
from Melbourne, will look when Qantas's budget
carrier, Jetstar, starts its services from Avalon on
June 1.

After years as an aircraft maintenance centre and
low-level military airport, the Avalon makeover
includes refurbishing the 600-square-metre terminal
and building a 500-space car park, which would double
in size as passenger numbers increase.

The terminal will initially operate with one gate for
arrivals and one for departures and include covered
walkways, a lounge and three check-in counters.
Transport connections from Melbourne and Geelong to
Avalon were also being finalised, he said.

Mr Anderson said he was confident that the project
would be completed by the scheduled deadline of May
22, leaving 10 days' leeway to smooth out hitches.
  
Top: Linfox's Tim Anderson with artist impressions of
the new airport, including, below, airport lounge. 
Photo: Craig Abraham 
 

Mr Anderson said the airport would grow with Jetstar,
with his vision including a commercial development.

"This is stage one of the development, so as the
airline and passenger numbers increase we propose to
further expand the terminal, car parking structure and
retail components of the building," Mr Anderson said.

He said talks were continuing with organisers of the
biennial Avalon Airshow to ensure its survival after
Jetstar takes off. Airport officials were also working
with Jetstar to devise promotional opportunities to
combine the event with air tickets.

Jetstar will serve Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne as
well as 10 leisure destinations on the east coast. A
Jetstar spokeswoman could not provide details about
the rate of forward bookings.

Mr Anderson also said Linfox hoped to submit plans for
a large direct factory outlet at its Essendon Airport,
which it owns in partnership with Becton Corporation,
to the Federal Government by May. He said he was
expecting shopping centre giant Westfield to contest
the plans, as it had taken action to stop Brisbane
Airport from developing a $100 million commercial
precinct. However, he said that pending approval, the
62,000-square-metre complex would be completed next
year. 



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