Launceston Airport: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
==History== |
==History== |
||
[[Image:Virgin Blue Launceston.jpg|thumb|left| |
[[Image:Virgin Blue Launceston.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Virgin Blue]] passengers disembarking at Launceston Airyport]]After the formation of the Tasmanian Aero Club in 1927, the building of the first air travel facility in Tasmania on the site, the ''Western Junction Aerodrome'', began and was first used in 1930, with the [[aerodrome]] being officially opened in 1929.<ref>[http://www.elaunceston.com/launcestonhistory/jun07news.htm Launceston Historical Society Inc]</ref> In 1962 a plan for major redevelopment of the airport was approved. This included strengthening of all pavements, a runway extension, and soon after a new terminal building.<ref>[http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/subsector.php?id=107997 A Brief History of Aviation in Tasmania and the Launceston Airport]</ref> The site 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, now being owned by a group known as Australia Pacific Airports (Launceston) Pty. Ltd, a partially owned subsidiary of Australia Pacific Airports Corporation, the owner of [[Melbourne Airport]]. The collapse of [[Ansett Australia]] in 2001, the introduction of [[Virgin Blue]] and the [[Qantas]] subsidiary [[Jetstar Airways]] in 2001 & 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 Launceston Airport celebrated the milestone of reaching one million passenger movements per year as well as the introduction of [[Tiger Airways Australia]].<ref>[http://www.jetstar.com/pdf/news/20071009.pdf Jetstar congratulates Launceston Airport on one million passenger milestone]</ref> |
||
==Terminal Building== |
==Terminal Building== |
||
Revision as of 03:35, 17 April 2008
Launceston Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Launceston Airport Logo.JPG | |||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Launceston | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Western Junction | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 562 ft / 171 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°32′43″S 147°12′51″E / 41.54528°S 147.21417°E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www.launcestonairport.com.au | ||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Launceston Airport (IATA: LST, ICAO: YMLT) is a regional airport on the outskirts of Launceston, Tasmania. Situated in the rural area of Western Junction, the airport is located 15 km from the Launceston City Centre. Hobart International Airport and Launceston Airport are the only two airports in Tasmania to reach one million passenger movements per year. And like its Hobart counterpart Launceston is a curfew free airport. On January 222007, Launceston Airport recorded its highest passenger movements in one month, 100,000 passengers
History
After the formation of the Tasmanian Aero Club in 1927, the building of the first air travel facility in Tasmania on the site, the Western Junction Aerodrome, began and was first used in 1930, with the aerodrome being officially opened in 1929.[1] In 1962 a plan for major redevelopment of the airport was approved. This included strengthening of all pavements, a runway extension, and soon after a new terminal building.[2] The site 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, now being owned by a group known as Australia Pacific Airports (Launceston) Pty. Ltd, a partially owned subsidiary of Australia Pacific Airports Corporation, the owner of Melbourne Airport. The collapse of Ansett Australia in 2001, the introduction of Virgin Blue and the Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways in 2001 & 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 Launceston Airport celebrated the milestone of reaching one million passenger movements per year as well as the introduction of Tiger Airways Australia.[3]
Terminal Building
The Terminal Building services the four interstate airlines: Qantaslink, Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways Australia.
Passengers departing Launceston leave via Gate 2 for QantasLink and Jetstar, and Gate 3 for Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways Australia. Passengers enter the terminal building through the gate closest to the stand where their aircraft is parked (Gates 1-4)
Inside the Terminal, there is information on what to do, what to eat and where to stay in Launceston and surrounds by the means of pamphlets, the directory board and the tourist 'touch' computer. There is one food outlet in the terminal, Kavihan Cafe, which serves hot and cold food. There is also an automated teller machine and postal facilities in the terminal.
Airlines and Destinations
Domestic
- Airlines of Tasmania (Flinders Island)
- Qantas
- QantasLink (Melbourne)
- Jetstar Airways (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane)
- Tiger Airways Australia (Melbourne)
- Virgin Blue (Melbourne, Sydney)
Freight
- Australian air Express (Melbourne)
Car hire
Six hire car operators operate from Launceston Airport:
All have rental car desks positioned inside the main terminal building with car rental return situated within 200 metres of the main terminal building.
Ground Transport
- Launceston Airport has a Short Term and a Long Term Car Park, as well as an Overflow Carpark that can accommodate 150 Cars, and is accessible any time.
- The Airport Shuttle Bus operates from the City Centre to the Airport, with pick up/drop off at your door in most suburbs, hotels and motels.
- Taxis run to/from the airport to the city centre for around $25
- Limousine airport transfers for up to 7 people
Accidents and Incidents
In May 2003, Qantas Flight 1737 was hijacked shortly after takeoff from Melbourne Airport en route to Launceston. The flight attendants and passengers managed to subdue and restrain the hijacker, and the plane landed safely at Melbourne.
See also
References