[COM] Adelaide Airport T1 Terminal | $260m

[rogue]

Blue sky mining plan

FRANCES STEWART

November 06, 2007 07:30am

THE old domestic terminal at Adelaide Airport would be redeveloped as a base for increasing numbers of mining charter flights under a plan being considered by the airport's managers.

Adelaide Airport managing director Phil Baker said the airport needed to expand its terminals to cope with increasing demand from the mining industry and, hopefully, new airline Tiger.
The airport expects the number of charter flights to rise steadily with increasing levels of mining activity in the state.

"Regional flights have performed strongly," Mr Baker said. "Mostly because of mining."

A separate terminal is being considered as mining charter flights are not security screened before arrival in Adelaide.

Meanwhile new entrant to the market, Tiger, has said during negotiations with the airport it is reluctant to pay the facilities fee at the domestic terminal.

Accommodation in the redeveloped terminal would bypass this problem and could see Tiger establish itself in Adelaide.

Growth in the state's mining sector would also provide a range of opportunities for port and rail operators.

Flinders Ports and FreightLink representatives told a transport seminar their companies were looking at upgrading infrastructure to meet anticipated demand from the mining sector.

Flinders Ports chief executive officer Vincent Tremaine said the expansion of the mining industry was a big opportunity to expand and upgrade facilities.

The state's mining boom is expected to boost cargo revenue, which had been falling because of the drought.

"These days it seems like the entire state is potentially a mine," Mr Tremaine said. "We will see more high-value, smaller shipments."

Flinders Ports wants to upgrade the facilities at Port Lincoln without the need for dredging which could cause damage to the area's commercial and recreational fishing.

'Dredging can pose risks to the fishing industry by encouraging growth of toxic algae with the potential to damage the environment by reducing water quality and disturbing sediment.

Options being examined by Flinders Ports include barges to ferry loads out to waiting ships or extending the existing wharf out to deeper water.

Upgrades to Port Pirie's facilities are also planned.

Rail infrastructure would be upgraded to cater for an expected rise in freight traffic for mining. Rail would need to link mines and ports directly to reap the benefits, said FreightLink CEO John Fullerton.

"Ports will become more important as the resources boom continues," he said. "The most important thing to get mines running is to have the transport infrastructure running."

Mr Fullerton said rail infrastructure would need to be extended and upgraded because many mines in the state's north would only be viable if they were able to connect with the rail network.

"Mines will require significant investment in infrastructure to be feasible," he said.

[rogue]

From http://www.aal.com.au

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2007

Statement f rom AAL Managing Di rector, Phi l Baker

Re: Adelaide Ai rpor t Cur few

Contrary to The Advertiser’s media report, Adelaide Airport Ltd is not seeking to have the airport curfew lifted.

There is no doubt from AAL’s point of view the impact of the curfew is an obstacle for growth in aviation and related business, and that airlines have indicated they would consider flying if the curfew was changed.

However, my comments yesterday were in response to a question from the floor at a transport conference, and in my response I made it clear that AAL would not be part of any plan to reduce the curfew.

I also indicated any such decision would be entirely up to governments and the community at large.

[Edgar]

I must comment on the efficiency of the Airport management, which is very good when it comes to domestic flights.

However, international flights are a bit of a disappointment. There is simply just not enough staffs for the immigration clearance counter.

I would say there are at least 10 counters or more, but during my recent return from overseas, I noticed only 4 active working staffs, 2 for domestic clearance, and 2 for international.

For heaven's sake, Melbourne, Sydney and other major airports in Australia have more staffs than just 4! I don't know if that was because the Malaysia Airlines flight I took lands too early in the morning, usually at around 6am, or is it because that is just how many staffs Adelaide Airport management allocates.

If you are behind the line, it will take you at least an hour before you are all cleared, what a shame! An hour of standing in the line, at 6am in the morning. By the time you clear the customs and quarantines and pick up your luggage, you exit 1.5 hours after you landed.

[Howie]

Tiger Air ready for Adelaide take-off
Article from: The Advertiser


STUART INNES, TOURISM WRITER

November 13, 2007 01:15am

LOW-FARE domestic airline Tiger Airways is expected to announce today that it will begin flying to and from Adelaide.

The Melbourne-based airline, known for fares as low as $9.95, has progressively announced flights so far to 11 Australian airports but not yet to Adelaide or Sydney.

It has indicated that Sydney Airport charges do not fit its strict low-cost model but it is known that talks with Adelaide Airport have been wrapped up for some weeks.

Tiger Aviation chief executive Tony Davis is to arrive in Melbourne from Singapore today to attend an Airports and Aviation Outlook conference.

His Melbourne office announced late yesterday there would be an announcement "regarding Tiger Australia's network" at 11am.

But tourism and aviation leaders believe Mr Davis will announce Adelaide flights to start next year.

Aviation observers say Tiger could use the old domestic terminal at Adelaide Airport rather than the $260 million Terminal 1.

At present, Tiger has only five aircraft in Australia and, as reported in The Advertiser two weeks ago, any substantial expansion of its route network will require additional aircraft due next year.

Its parent group has ordered 50 more Airbus A320 jets and Tiger says some of those are likely to be allocated to Australian operations.

Tiger is scheduled to start flying in Australia on Friday next week.

It will progressively begin services in Darwin, Perth, Alice Springs, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Mackay, Rockhampton and Launceston.

Adelaide Airport Ltd managing director Phil Baker said yesterday that he would meet Mr Davis at the Melbourne conference today.

"It would be great if Tiger announces Adelaide," he said.

"We finished talking with them some time ago." he said.

Having Tiger Airways on most Australian domestic routes will again test the theory that Australia has room for only two domestic airlines.

Compass I, Compass II and Impulse all have come and gone trying to be low-fare carriers.

Virgin Blue has been a success since the demise of Ansett, providing competition for Qantas and the Qantas low-cost wing Jetstar.

[Edgar]

hope we don't lose this one after we lost AirAsia!

[frank1]

I have possibly figured out why adelaide airport sucks at attracting new airlines. It could be that such airlines like tiger, airasia don't want to pay higher fees towards paying off aerobridges, clubs,etc at our new airport, unlike other national airports which don't have such high fees.

[Norman]

From AdelaideNow: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

Melbourne flights for $9.95
LOW-FARE airline Tiger Airways will begin flying the Adelaide-Melbourne route on January 10 with a one-way fare of $9.95.

About 8500 of the promotional fares are available but are expected to be snapped up quickly, as they have been when Tiger has announced other routes in Australia from its Melbourne Tullamarine base.
Its website http://www.tigerairways.com also lists one-way fares in either direction on the Adelaide-Melbourne route at $19.95, $49.95 and $59.95, all including taxes and fees.

Tiger will fly twice a day each way on the Adelaide-Melbourne route and tickets can be booked to continue the trip from Melbourne to its other destinations, such as Tasmania, Queensland, Canberra and Newcastle.

Tiger has promised to better the competitors' fares "consistently."

Tiger Airways chief executive Tony Davis said he expected the lower fares would attract people to fly who would otherwise chose not to.

Trips could be to see football games or have weekends away.

Deputy Premier Kevin Foley said he was delighted Tiger had decided to fly to Adelaide.

"Increased aviation competition is vital for the growth of the SA economy and these flights in particular are a welcome boost to the tourism industry," Mr Foley said.

Tiger is still determining if it will use the old domestic terminal at Adelaide Airport or the newer big Terminal 1.

The announcement of Tiger flights to and from Adelaide was first predicted on AdelaideNow and in The Advertiser earlier today.

[Al]

Melbourne day trips! Yay!!

[Cruise]

$40 return to melbourne?


ill be going to melbourne several times a year!!!

[Will]

This is great news. And taking into account that there are also $10 fares from Melbourne to Hobart, Launceston and Canberra, this will allow Adelaide people to visit these exotic destinations for $40 return!

[skyliner]

Look forward to greater air traffic and a higher profile for Adelaide.

They will have to do some work on the old terminal (T2??)

ADELAIDE - CITY ON THE MOVE

[ozisnowman]

Tiger doesnt want to use T1 because of associated fees.

AAL and the Government complain about not getting enough international
flights and the like to Adelaide. Well if they were serious about it they
would reduce landing fees and gate fees etc at the Airport. Im sure that
they would have a lot of overseas airlines wanting to service Adelaide.

[omada]

Are we mainly assuming Adelaide Airports landing fees are higher that Austs other airports? Or is this a fact? Surely in regards to international airlines they wouldn't be that expensive?

[rogue]

From aal.com.au

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 13, 2007

ADELAIDE AIRPORT WELCOMES TIGER AIRWAYS

Adelaide Airport Ltd Managing Director Phil Baker today welcomed Tiger Airways’ announcement that it will fly twice-daily between Adelaide and Melbourne from January 2008.

Mr Baker said Tiger’s entry into the Adelaide marketplace would provide more competition which would translate into cheaper fares for South Australian travellers.

“This is great news for Adelaide Airport and for South Australian travellers,” Mr Baker said.

“Adelaide Airport Ltd is always looking for opportunities to attract new airlines and more flights. It’s not every day that a new airline enters the Australian domestic market, and so it is important that we have been able to secure the presence of Tiger Airways in Adelaide.”

Last week, AAL announced a record number of close to 6.3 million passengers had travelled through Adelaide Airport in 2006/07, an increase of 8.1 per cent on the previous year.

And Qantas B747 from today...

[duke]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 59,00.html

PREMIER Mike Rann has criticised Adelaide Airport Limited over a bungled solar panel project after being ``significantly frustrated'' by delays.
Mr Rann, who more than two years ago first announced the $1 million Adelaide Airport Solar Project, this week told Parliament that: ``Never has it been so hard to give away money as it has been giving it to Adelaide Airport.''

As revealed by The Advertiser on September 17, the original concept for the project was axed two years after Mr Rann announced the airport would be the first in Australia to be solar-powered.

In September The Advertiser reported an airport and State Government working group had decided to ``go for a completely new concept''. The airport has favoured a concept it says is operating in the city of Adelaide very successfully and could be delivered within budget.

The Premier, however, wants to ensure any project has a ``visual'' component to try to highlight the Government's green credentials. He told Parliament his Government had put solar panels on the roofs of State Parliament, the SA Museum, the State Library, the Art Gallery and up to 250 schools.

``I have been significantly frustrated by the negotiations (with Adelaide Airport Limited),'' he said.

``But I am hopeful that things are now being resolved to everyone's satisfaction so that we can have the first airport that I know of that will have substantial solar powering. I understand there have been problems over design matters in terms of different issues that have been considered but I want to see the money spent.''

Office of Major Projects and Infrastructure executive director Rod Hook said the ball was very much in Adelaide Airport Limited's court to finalise a design and start work on this project.

``We expect to see a finalised design before Christmas and for construction to start in the new year to be completed by the middle of 2008.''

Airport managing director Phil Baker declined to be interviewed by The Advertiser, referring inquiries to an Adelaide public relations firm.

In an emailed statement from the firm, Mr Baker said the Premier ``is entitled to his views''.
``We are continuing our discussions with the State Government to find a suitable solution,'' the statement said.