Avalon growth casts doubt over Australia’s airshow.
Airport owner Linfox has said that he is concerned how the Avalon Airshow will affect the running of Jetstar’s increasing number of services and the possible entry of other airlines, with Jetstar having 14 daily arrivals and departures at Avalon during the last event in 2005, but organisers having to contend with 20 commercial flights in this year’s show this week.
With Virgin Blue having also flagged the possibility of launching flights from the airport, and low-cost carrier Tiger is also suggesting it will utilise Avalon, Industry and State Development Minister Theo Theophanous revealed that Linfox had raised concerns about the show’s effect if the number of flights to Avalon was doubled, adding, “I’ve been told by Linfox Airport’s MD David Fox that it would be a serious problem, holding the airshow at the same time.
He added that the Government had a deal with show organisers to keep the event in Victoria until at least 2015, and all possible would be done to keep it at Avalon, saying, “There is really nowhere else in Australia you could have this airshow, and you should remember that it has literally put Avalon on the map.”
Despite the deal, Linfox requires organisers to negotiate access show by show, with Linfox declining to comment.
Jetstar’s Simon Westaway said it supported the event but its effect on schedules would be reviewed, with the show, expected to attract up to 200,000 people this week, opening today for trade visitors only, with public entry from 2pm on Friday and over the weekend.
With the event estimated to generate $100 million for the state economy and creating over 1800 jobs, media previews included a fly past by RAAF FA/18 Super Hornets, with Defence Minister Brendan Nelson taking a joyflight in one of 24 Super Hornets on order at a cost of $6 billion, the newest weapon in Australia’s air defence.
Unfortunately a Jetstar Airbus had to abort landing yesterday when an RAAF aircraft was blocking the runway, the pilot deciding that the RAAF jet was too close to the runway.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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