Maintenance base closure leaves Avalon up in the air
The closure of the base is another blow for an airport whose passenger numbers have slumped to about 600,000 annually, from about 1 million two years ago. Tiger Air pulled its operations out of Avalon Airport in 2011 in the wake of its temporary grounding, while Jetstar has also reduced its services in recent years.
Avalon Airport chief executive Justin Giddings said the loss of the Qantas heavy maintenance base "presents a challenge" to find new tenants for three hangars - each 10,000 square metres - used for work on 747 jumbos.
It also has two other hangars of between 5000 and 10,000 square metres.
"It is a lot of space to fill. We have got to look at new opportunities," he said.
Mr Giddings said the hangars could be used for storage, military or search and rescue purposes.
Avalon has attempted to position itself as Victoria's second international airport after Tullamarine, but has not been able to attract foreign airlines despite numerous talks.
Philippines airline Cebu Pacific has indicated interest in flying to Avalon, which is 56 kilometres from Melbourne's CBD. However, it is understood to face hurdles in gaining the necessary air rights.
The closure of the facility at Avalon will leave Qantas with just one heavy aircraft maintenance base in Australia. Its remaining base in Brisbane does not have the ability to perform work on 747 aircraft, which means that work on Qantas' fleet of 15 jumbos is likely to be performed overseas once Avalon is closed.
Mr Giddings declined to detail the financial impact of the loss of the Qantas base but said "it's not crippling".
Qantas decided to close the Avalon base because the gradual retirement of its 747 fleet had made it unviable.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Qantas is closing its heavy aircraft maintenance base at Avalon Airport due to the gradual retirement of its 747 fleet, which has made the operation unviable.
Qantas is closing its heavy aircraft maintenance base at Avalon Airport due to the gradual retirement of its 747 fleet, which has made the operation unviable.
The closure of the Qantas maintenance base presents a challenge for Avalon Airport as it needs to find new tenants for the large hangars previously used for 747 maintenance. This is part of a broader need for the airport to diversify its business.
The closure of the Qantas maintenance base presents a challenge for Avalon Airport as it needs to find new tenants for the large hangars previously used for 747 maintenance. This is part of a broader need for the airport to diversify its business.
Avalon Airport is considering using the hangars for storage, military, or search and rescue purposes as part of its strategy to fill the space left by the closure of the Qantas maintenance base.
Avalon Airport's passenger numbers have decreased significantly, dropping from about 1 million annually two years ago to around 600,000 currently.
Avalon Airport's passenger numbers have already decreased from about 1 million annually to around 600,000, and the closure of the Qantas base adds to the challenges the airport faces in attracting more passengers.
The hangars at Avalon Airport could potentially be used for storage, military purposes, or search and rescue operations as the airport seeks to diversify its business.
Yes, Avalon Airport has attempted to position itself as Victoria's second international airport and is in talks with foreign airlines, including Cebu Pacific, although there are challenges in securing necessary air rights.
While Avalon Airport has not yet attracted foreign airlines despite numerous talks, Cebu Pacific from the Philippines has shown interest in flying to Avalon, although it faces challenges in obtaining the necessary air rights.
Cebu Pacific has shown interest in flying to Avalon Airport, but it faces hurdles in obtaining the necessary air rights to commence operations.
After the closure of the Avalon base, Qantas will have only one heavy aircraft maintenance base in Australia, located in Brisbane. However, this facility does not have the capability to perform maintenance on 747 aircraft, which means such work will likely be done overseas.
Once the Avalon base closes, Qantas's 747 maintenance work is likely to be performed overseas, as its remaining base in Brisbane does not have the capability to handle 747 aircraft.
Avalon Airport is attempting to position itself as Victoria's second international airport after Tullamarine, although it has faced challenges in attracting foreign airlines.
While the financial impact of the Qantas base closure is not detailed, Avalon Airport's chief executive Justin Giddings mentioned that it is 'not crippling' to the airport's operations.
While the financial impact of the Qantas base closure on Avalon Airport has not been detailed, the airport's chief executive, Justin Giddings, mentioned that it is 'not crippling.'
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
