Launceston Airport
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| Launceston Airport | |||
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| Jetstar Airbus A320 taking off from Launceston Airport | |||
IATA: LST – ICAO: YMLT
 LST
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| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited | ||
| Operator | Australia Pacific Airports (Launceston) Pty Ltd | ||
| Serves | Launceston | ||
| Location | Western Junction | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 562 ft / 171 m | ||
| Coordinates | 41°32′42″S 147°12′54″E / 41.545°S 147.215°E | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 14R/32L | 1,981 | 6,499 | Asphalt |
| 14L/32R | 700 | 2,297 | Grass |
| 18/36 | 690 | 2,264 | Grass |
| Source: Enroute Supplement Australia [1] | |||
Launceston Airport (IATA: LST, ICAO: YMLT) is a regional airport on the outskirts of Launceston, Tasmania. The airport is located in the rural area of Western Junction 15 km (9.3 mi) from Launceston city centre. It is Tasmania's fastest growing airport, and the second busiest in the state, after Hobart International Airport; it can also run as a curfew free airport. In the 2007/2008 financial year, the airport had a record 1.1 million passengers, up 10% on the previous year; 255,000 passengers passed through the airport in the three months to 30 September, up 7% on the previous year.[2] 309,000 passengers passed through in January - March 2008, the highest ever number in a calendar quarter, up 11% on the previous year.[3] It is currently Australia's 13th busiest airport, handling 1,126 572 passengers in the 2008-09 financial year.[4]
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[edit] History
After the formation of the Tasmanian Aero Club in 1927, the first air travel facility in Tasmania was built on the site. In July 1929 the Home Territories Department acquired land at the Western Junction, then also called Valley of Springs, for a £20,400 ($41,000) aerodrome. The Western Junction Aerodrome was officially opened in 1929 and opened for use in 1930.[5] In February 1931, around 20,000 people crammed into Evandale Road to watch Colonel Brinsmead, Controller of Civil Aviation, officially open Western Junction as a government aerodrome. During 1932 small aircraft flew from Launceston to Flinders Island.
For a period in the 1940s, the airport was an Air Force pilot training facility. Two of the Bellman hangars from this period are still located at the airport, on the southern Freight and GA operations area.
In 1962 a plan for major redevelopment of the airport was approved. This included strengthening of all pavements, a runway extension, and a new terminal building.[6] The airport was officially reopened that same year as Launceston Airport. In October 1982 the runway was further upgraded to Boeing 767 standard. In 1998, the airport was privatized, and is now owned jointly by Launceston City Council and Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited, which also owns Melbourne Airport. The collapse of Ansett Australia in 2001, the introduction of Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia) and the Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways in 2001 and 2004; and the creation of the Australian low cost airline market; have all contributed to a dramatic increase in aircraft movements at Launceston Airport. In 2007 the airport reached the milestone of one million passenger movements per year. Tiger Airways Australia also introduced services, and withdrew again in July 2010.[7]
[edit] Terminal
Launceston Airport terminal has recently undergone a A$20 million redevelopment, the largest expansion in its history. The project doubled the size of the terminal and was completed in November 2009. The airport currently has three retail and cafe outlets; Hudsons Coffee, Delaware North and News Travels, a News and Gift Shop, that all opened in July 2008.[8][9]
As part of the expansion, two new gate lounges were installed (Gate Lounges 2 and 3), with the capability for two more gate lounges when required in future. The new gate lounges area is approximately 1200m² at apron level. The gate lounges for departing passengers were constructed along with a 100m² extension of the landside lounge floor, bringing the landside lounge area to 800m². The new departure area has a single location for all airlines' check-in operations: QantasLink, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have a total of 12 check-in counters.[9] A checked bag screening (CBS) facility is linked to these check-in counters, allowing all aircraft checked baggage to be screened as required by the Commonwealth government from 1 December 2008. A 500m² baggage arrivals hall was constructed, and two new baggage carousels were installed: the first one opened to the public on 18 March, with the second following in April. Previously passengers had to take their bags from the airline baggage equipment.[10] A new multi-tenant car rental counter has been constructed next to the baggage arrivals area. There was a 1000m² expansion of the main landside passenger lounge, with views of the apron and runway.
The redeveloped terminal was officially opened on 12 March 2010 by the Premier of Tasmania, the Hon. David Bartlett.[10][11]
[edit] Airlines and destinations
Virgin Australia currently has up to five daily flights from Melbourne and one from Sydney. Jetstar has four daily flights from Melbourne, one from Sydney and flies to/from Brisbane up to twice daily during peak periods. QantasLink flies in up to three times daily from Melbourne only.[12]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Australian air Express | Hobart, Melbourne |
| Jetstar Airways | Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney |
| Qantas operated by QantasLink | Melbourne |
| Sharp Airlines | Flinders Island |
| Virgin Australia | Melbourne, Sydney
Seasonal: Brisbane |
[edit] Traffic and statistics
Launceston Airport's passenger numbers have increased dramatically in recent years, significantly exceeding the airports forecasts in the Airport Master Plan 2005. The passenger numbers achieved in the 2007-08 fiscal year were not anticipated until at least fiscal year 2019-20.[13]
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[edit] Access
Primary access to Launceston Airport is via private vehicles. Launceston Airport has a Short Term and a Long Term Car Park, as well as an Overflow Carpark that can accommodate 150 Cars. Public transport is not provided between Launceston Airport and the City of launceston. Numerous taxi services are available as well as Airport Shuttle Buses that operate mainly from the City Centre to the airport but also connecting the Northwest Tasmanian towns of Devonport, Ulverstone and Burnie.[19][20][21]
[edit] Accidents and incidents
On 29 May 2003, Qantas Flight 1737 — en route from Melbourne Airport — was hijacked shortly after takeoff. The hijacker, a passenger named David Robinson, intended to fly the aircraft into the Walls of Jerusalem National Park located in central Tasmania. The flight attendants and passengers successfully subdued and restrained the hijacker, and the aircraft returned to Melbourne, where it landed safely.[22][23]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ YMLT – LAUNCESTON (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 17 November 2011
- ^ "Launceston Airport flying high". Fairfax Media (The Examiner). 2008-10-22. http://northerntasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/economy-business-it-finance/launceston-airport-flying-high/1339659.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ "Outstanding Growth for Launceston Airport". Launceston Airport. 2008-04-21. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=529&id=154. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/91/Files/WebAirport_FY_1986-2009.xls
- ^ Launceston Historical Society Inc.
- ^ A Brief History of Aviation in Tasmania and the Launceston Airport
- ^ "Jetstar congratulates Launceston Airport on one million passenger milestone". Jetsar. 2009-10-09. http://www.jetstar.com/~/media/files/pdf/news/2007/oct/20071009.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ "About The Expansion". Launceston Airport. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=549. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ a b "The Facts". Launceston Airport. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=548&expandSection=3. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ a b "Launceston Gets Its First Of Two Baggage Carousels". Launceston Airport. 2009-03-18. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=529&id=179. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "$20 million redevelopment of Launceston Airport takes off". Launceston Airport. 2008-05-30. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=529&id=157. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "Arrivals and Departures". Launceston Airport. http://webfids.launcestonairport.com.au/cgi-bin/webfids.pl. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ 2005 Master PlanPDF (10.9 MB)
- ^ "Domestic Monthly Airline Activity publication January 2011" (Website). Aviation Statistics. Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics. January 2011. p. 4. http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/23/Files/Domestic%20Monthly%20Airline%20Activity%20publication%20January%202011.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ^ Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia - Passenger/Aircraft Statistics
- ^ Media Release
- ^ Australia Pacific Airports Annual Report 1999
- ^ Australia Pacific Airports Annual Report 1998
- ^ "Car Parking at Launceston Airport". Launceston Airport. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=506. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Car Park Map". Launceston Airport. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/uploads/files/basic-layout-cpark-model.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Car Parking Conditions". Launceston Airport. http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=511. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Two stabbed in attempted hijack over Melbourne". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2003-05-29. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/29/1054177663122.html. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "Qantas hijacker found not guilty". The Age. 2004-07-14. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/14/1089694406844.html?from=storylhs. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Launceston Airport |
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