Avalon Airport (IATA: AVV, ICAO: YMAV) is the second busiest of the four airports serving Melbourne (in passenger traffic) and is located in Avalon, Victoria, Australia. It is located 23 kilometres (14 mi) north-east of the city of Geelong and is 55 kilometres (34 mi) to the south-west of the state's capital city of Melbourne.

The airport is designed to cater for jet aircraft, and comprises a single runway. It is used for scheduled passenger services by Jetstar Airways and Sharp Airlines and as a heavy maintenance facility by Jetstar's parent company, Qantas.[4] It is also the site of the biennial Australian International Airshow. Previously, air traffic control was only provided on request, but on 16 May 2008 it was announced that regular air traffic control facilities would now be provided at Avalon.

The land on which Avalon Airport lies is part of the Lara Lea escarpment which is bounded by the You Yangs, Corio Bay and Melbourne Water sewage treatment agistment paddocks. The airport continues to fall under the jurisdiction of the Australian Department of Defence.

Avalon's Control tower and offices (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Aircraft hangars at the airport. The tail of H-EBU Nalanji Dreaming can be seen in the second hangar (Click on the photo to enlarge)

C-17 Globemaster III at Avalon Airport, Australia, March 2005 (Click on the photo to enlarge)

History

Avalon Airport was opened in 1953, to cater for the production of military aircraft. Previously the Government Aircraft Factory located at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne had used a runway beside their factory. However, newer jet aircraft required a longer runway length for safe operations, and the Fishermans Bend runway was being encroached upon by development. Land near Lara was purchased by the Commonwealth Government for a new facility. The site of the airport was originally part of the Avalon homestead and sheep station.

A 10,000 feet (3,000 m) runway was built by Country Roads Board, with the first plane landing on 3 April 1953 - a 4 engined Avro Lincoln bomber flown from Fishermans Bend. The Canberra jet bomber was under construction at same time at the new airport. In 1959, Qantas established a training base at the site.

In 1985 the Government Aircraft Factory changed its name to Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA). Aircraft produced during this time had included the Sabre jet fighter, Jindavik remotely-piloted aircraft, and Nomad civil aircraft. Under the ASTA banner engines for the Dassault Mirage III jet fighters were produced, as well as assembly of the F/A-18 fighter jets for the RAAF.

October 1988 saw ASTA Aircraft Services division take delivery of the first Boeing 747 to Avalon for servicing and maintenance. By December 1993 fifty 747 aircraft had been through the Avalon facility, and 820 people were employed at the site. October 1995 saw a Cathay Pacific Lockheed L-1011 flown to Avalon for scrapping by ASTA Aircraft Services, in what was a one off event.

Training of pilots from Japan's All Nippon Airways commenced at Avalon on 8 September 1993.

On 27 June 1995 Aerospace Technologies of Australia was privatised by the Commonwealth Government, selling the aircraft divisions to Rockwell Australia Limited, and the airport operations to Avalon Airport Geelong Pty Ltd. The ASTA airliner overhauling facility was closed in 1997.

The first scheduled passenger flights out of Avalon were operated by Hazelton Airlines, who commenced flights between Avalon Airport and Sydney in February 1995. 36 seat SAAB 340 aircraft were used for the service. The service was discontinued after a short time due to a lack of patronage.

In 1997 the Australian government decided Avalon was no longer needed and it was leased to Linfox, a company owned by transport tycoon Lindsay Fox.

Scheduled passenger flights

Jetstar Airways, a low cost subsidiary of Qantas, is the current major user of Avalon Airport. Although its main base is Melbourne-Tullamarine, Jetstar service Brisbane and Sydney from Avalon. Adelaide and Perth were previously serviced, but these have since been moved to Tullamarine. Nearly all other Melbourne services use Tullamarine Airport as to compete with rivals Tiger Airways and Virgin Blue.

Jetstar announced that they would use Avalon as the origin of flights to Sydney and Brisbane in 2004. Avalon was chosen in preference to Melbourne Airport due to relatively lower operating costs. A new terminal, consisting of three check-in counters and a departure lounge, was constructed to cater for the airline. Since that time, Avalon Airport has expanded its facilities and is now recognised as a major hub for travel to Melbourne and Geelong. The domestic terminal is currently being expanded at a cost of A$4 million. A new departure gate, additional lounge seating, new retail outlets and an enlarged arrivals hall is under construction.

Tiger Airways Australia announced it was basing two aircraft at the airport from late 2010, expanding its services which presently operate only from Melbourne Airport.

Currently, the only other airline operating passenger services is Sharp Airlines, operating regional flights to Portland Airport and Hamilton Airport.

Avalon is the site of one of Qantas' heavy maintenance and engineering facilities. The facility opened in the late 1990s, and currently employs 1000 people.

Avalon Airport hosts the Australian International Airshow, which is held every two years.

Arrival and baggage collection (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Inside arrivals building (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Check in counters (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Inside of departure terminal (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Departure gate (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Jetstar's Airbus A320 VH-VQY at Avalon Airport (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Future

Avalon Airport was one of three sites considered for the Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Markets which will be moved from West Melbourne to allow development of the Port of Melbourne. A site in Epping was ultimately chosen as the preferred site.

Linfox hopes Avalon will capture 10% of the Melbourne domestic passenger market by 2010, increasing to 20% by 2017. This represents up to 3.4 million passengers each year in the next decade. Further expansion plans involve international passenger and freight flights to the Asia-Pacific rim and Europe.

Malaysian long haul budget airline AirAsia X has been awarded rights to operate to Avalon Airport from Kuala Lumpur,. Avalon was considered the preferred option, however the need to construct customs facilities ruled it out for the first Australian destination. The current terminal is planned to be upgraded to handle AirAsia X and future international passenger airline flights. This new facility will provide Avalon with customs, immigration, quarantine and retail facilities and will be approximately 8000 square meters in size. In a bid to attract potential airlines, airport owner Lindsay Fox embarked on an overseas tour to attract carriers. Airlines from India, Macau and Australia's Jetstar have been named as possible users. In June 2008, the initial proposal for the international terminal was rejected by the Federal Government for a number of unspecified reasons. This setback will mean Avalon cannot meet AirAsia's timetable of flying into Avalon from early 2009 although Linfox were prepared to continue to work with the Federal Government to sort out those issues. Currently, passenger volumes at Avalon are 1.4 million per annum. However, on 14 November 2008, Lindsay Fox announced that upgrading Avalon Airport to handle international flights would no longer be viable due to the government's resistance. Then on 10 March 2009, Linfox announced that Avalon would indeed handle international flights within two years and the Government would approve of a $50 million terminal by the end of 2009.

India's Kingfisher Airlines has also expressed interest in flying from Avalon to Bangalore non stop utilising Airbus A330-200 or Airbus A340-500 aircraft. This speculation has been formulated around the opening of an international terminal at Avalon Airport.

Airlines and destinations

Avalon Airport is a premier location for jet pilot training and aircraft endorsement, military and commercial aircraft refurbishment and maintenance.

Avalon Airport, Australia's newest domestic passenger terminal.

Just 40 minutes to downtown Melbourne, subject to traffic conditions and 15 minutes to Geelong, Avalon makes Victoria and its two largest cities more accessible than ever

Flight Check In Desks will open 2 hours prior to departure and close 30 minutes before the flight is scheduled to leave.

Always allow time to make sure you are there with time to spare.

Freeway congestion - remember traffic in and out of Melbourne during peak times can vary, so allow more travel time during peak hour.

Passenger Terminal Manager - Terry Bright
E-mail: terry_bright at linfox com
Tel: 03 5227 9378

Address:
Avalon Airport
Beach Road, Lara
Victoria, Australia 3212

Tel: +61 3 5227 9100

Fax: +61 3 5282 3335

E-mail: avalonairport at primus com au

URL: Avalon Airport

Runway 18/36

10000 x 148 feet
3048 x 45 meters

Navaids

Navaids

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