News & Discussion: Adelaide Airport & Airlines

[Dazzeland]

My dad is working on the joint user hydrant installation (fuel pumps) at the airport, and he got a peek at some of the plans, and some of them are quite exciting, like a new international terminal by 2029.

Also, Emirates are planning to introduce a380 services instead of multiple daily services if they keep passenger numbers up.

Pretty good stuff, although you didn't hear it from me.

[bm7500]

My dad is working on the joint user hydrant installation (fuel pumps) at the airport, and he got a peek at some of the plans, and some of them are quite exciting, like a new international terminal by 2029.

Also, Emirates are planning to introduce a380 services instead of multiple daily services if they keep passenger numbers up.

Pretty good stuff, although you didn't hear it from me.

Very exciting stuff indeed!

Any clues on when Emirates might swing A380 services our way?

[Ho Really]

...Emirates are planning to introduce a380 services instead of multiple daily services if they keep passenger numbers up.

Any clues on when Emirates might swing A380 services our way?

If their pax numbers go up and...if the Aussie dollar, which is steady at the moment, doesn't slip and...if Malaysia, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific fail to offer good fares (which I doubt). Let's wait and see. In the meantime I would like to see more airlines come here, like China Southern or China Eastern...and the sooner the better to give a boost to our tourism industry. Not sure whether our State Government is in any negotiations with Indian carriers, but that's an area where they need to keep their eyes on. China and India have masses of middle-class tourists just waiting to see Australia [and to be served something different, like Adelaide and SA].

On Tuesday this week Cathay Pacific launched their 2014 Earlybird sale fares to Europe with Economy starting from $AUD1,615 (Melbourne-Rome). Now waiting for the others to launch theirs.

Cheers

[bm7500]

This is the new plaza water feature, which will be finished by Christmas.

[Ho Really]

Very optimistic. Will people really sit out there? And those trees...they'll take a few years to grow. They may even eventually crack the floor, that's if they get enough juice from under all that cement.

Cheers

[Patrick_27]

If it'll fit, I think they should move the commemorative plane from the long-term car-park to the plaza. Would be a great feature and really fill in that large space.

[bm7500]

Virgin adds Adelaide base

Adelaide | Virgin Australia will set up a base for cabin crew in Adelaide, creating about 80 new jobs.

The news comes two years after competitor Tiger closed its Adelaide base in August 2011, taking an estimated 60 jobs with it.

Premier Jay Weatherill stepped out at Adelaide Airport this morning to welcome the announcement.

He said the new jobs would be in addition to the 180 customer-service and ground crew already working at Adelaide Airport – and part of the training for the cabin crew staff will be conducted in Adelaide.

“Airlines play a significant part in our economy, bringing business and tourism to the State,” Weatherill said.

“Today’s announcement by Virgin Australia shows that Adelaide is an important destination in its operations.

“Importantly, having a cabin crew base here also means about 80 new jobs in Adelaide.

“Previously, the more than 40 Virgin flights in and out of Adelaide have been serviced by cabin crew from other States.”

Virgin already operates a pilot training centre in Adelaide.

The Virgin decision follows a number of air carrier announcements in the wake of new alliances and route hub adjustments in the industry.

Emirates has started direct flights from Dubai to Adelaide, budget carrier AirAsiaX will be flying into Adelaide from next month and Singapore Airlines recently increased its services into Adelaide to 12 flights a week.

“Adelaide airport is the fastest-growing international airport in Australia,” Weatherill said.

“This continued investment by airlines is a key part of South Australia being able to market itself to the world.

“Invest in South Australia has done great work in attracting this latest opportunity.”

How much has been paid in taxpayer funded incentives rarely comes to light in these announcements and no detail was mentioned in the Premier’s statement today

The history of State Government incentives to aviation carriers includes;

• An unknown amount to AirAsiaX in 2013 dubbed “commercial-in-confidence” by Tourism Minister Leon Bignell. The deal went pear-shaped early on when AirAsiaX ran an ad campaign that encouraged people to travel abroad rather than South Australian regions. “The ads were not in the spirit of the Government’s agreement with the airline and they are being removed,” Bignell admitted in August.

• A $2 million package in 2008 to Tiger Airways to base two aircraft in Adelaide and create “about 50 new jobs for pilots and cabin crew”. Tiger’s base closed in August 2011.

• In 2005 Premier Mike Rann announced the arrival of OzJet Airlines, a business class airline. “The company plans to employ nearly 300 people in high-tech and professional jobs as well as operational positions over the next three years, and will generate an estimated $31 million in economic benefit to the State over the next five years.” OzJet instead opted to go to Melbourne, and collapsed 13 months later.

http://indaily.com.au/business/2013/09/ ... aide-base/

[Vee]

Yes, bm7500, it's good news for SA jobs and Adelaide Airport.
Looks like a welcome shift in state govt policy, encouraging the public sector to buy the cheapest airfares, played a part!

That stat that Adelaide Airport is the fastest growing international airport in Australia sounds impressive too.

Virgin Australia cabin crews base for Adelaide prompts flights policy change by SA Government

The South Australian Government expects more government staff will fly Virgin Australia in future. The airline is to set up a base in Adelaide for cabin crews in a move expected to create 80 jobs. Virgin flights in and out of Adelaide have been serviced until now by cabin crews based in other states.

SA Premier Jay Weatherill said the Government was making a policy change to require staff to book the best airfare available for their flights, instead of the past policy where Qantas was the carrier of choice. He said it was part of the negotiating process to secure the Virgin facility.

"Obviously Virgin needed to have a basis for having their crew here, that was the first matter, but we sought to encourage them to come here," he said.

The Premier said the new jobs would be additional to 180 customer service and ground crew staff already working at Adelaide Airport. He said some of the training of cabin staff would be done in Adelaide in future.

Mr Weatherill said he was pleased with growth in business for Adelaide Airport, involving more flights by Emirates, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines and an imminent start of AirAsiaX services.

"Adelaide airport is the fastest-growing international airport in Australia," he said.

Mark Hassell of Virgin Australia said the airline would start recruiting in November.

"We've got more than 40 flights daily in and out of Adelaide and the time is right to construct a base here and operate very flexibly and productively in South Australia, so it's a great time for us," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-17/v ... ge/4962906

[TooFar]

As someone who uses Adelaide airport weekly, I have to say that the current drop off/Pick up zone is a terrible solution.

I still do not understand why the raised drop off zone in front of the terminal was closed. Why is it that only appears Adelaide to come up with these "unique" implementations?

[monotonehell]

As someone who uses Adelaide airport weekly, I have to say that the current drop off/Pick up zone is a terrible solution.

I still do not understand why the raised drop off zone in front of the terminal was closed. Why is it that only appears Adelaide to come up with these "unique" implementations?

If we stopped giving in to the fear of imagined terrorists, that drop off zone could still be working very well as originally designed. But since they had to adapt to the new rules, we have the current evolved situation.

[crawf]

The bus stop setup needs to be overhauled. It's an oversized suburban shelter with terrible connection to the existing airport facilities. Plus it would struggle in peak times.

It needs to be better integrated with the pickup zone.

[TooFar]

As someone who uses Adelaide airport weekly, I have to say that the current drop off/Pick up zone is a terrible solution.

I still do not understand why the raised drop off zone in front of the terminal was closed. Why is it that only appears Adelaide to come up with these "unique" implementations?

If we stopped giving in to the fear of imagined terrorists, that drop off zone could still be working very well as originally designed. But since they had to adapt to the new rules, we have the current evolved situation.

Why is that only Adelaide has this fear of terrorist? All other airports I travel through have drop off zones outside the terminal.

What is even more astounding is that if a terrorist wanted to drive up to the terminal they still can, all they would need to do is drive around the concrete barrier that is now in place. Service vehicles are doing it all the time.

[rev]

The bus stop setup needs to be overhauled. It's an oversized suburban shelter with terrible connection to the existing airport facilities. Plus it would struggle in peak times.

It needs to be better integrated with the pickup zone.

Personally I think it would be better if they created a skybus and hotel shuttle like they have in Melbourne.
And since our bus station is not next to our train station, it would give further reason to expand the tram network through the CBD, and to the Airport it self.
Three modes of transport out of the airport into the City. Cant go wrong with that.

[Paulns]

The bus stop setup needs to be overhauled. It's an oversized suburban shelter with terrible connection to the existing airport facilities. Plus it would struggle in peak times.

It needs to be better integrated with the pickup zone.

Personally I think it would be better if they created a skybus and hotel shuttle like they have in Melbourne.
And since our bus station is not next to our train station, it would give further reason to expand the tram network through the CBD, and to the Airport it self.
Three modes of transport out of the airport into the City. Cant go wrong with that.

I agree. I think it'd be a great idea to have a tram out to the airport and I think as the airport's ever expanding it couldn't come soon enough. The question is where to put it? Up and down an already clogged Sir Donald Bradman Drive?

[Stefan P]

Afternoon all,

Tomorrow's Cathay Pacific flight CX105/104 is cancelled due to Typhoon Usagi sweeping across Hong Kong. Hong Kong Airport will be closed from 1800(HKG time) tonight and is expected to re-open tomorrow, but no time given.

Today's CX105/104 departed Adelaide, and has now terminated in Melbourne.