Launceston Airport
Launceston Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
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| File:Launceston Airport Logo.JPG | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 / 41.54500°S 147.21500°E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www.launcestonairport.com.au | ||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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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 (9.3 mi) 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. In the 2007/2008 Financial Year, Launceston Airport recorded a record 1.1 million passengers. Up 10% on the previous year. During the first three months of 2008, 309,000 passengers passed through Launceston Airport, the most in any previous yearly quarter. Up 11% on the previous year. [2]
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.[3] 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.[4] 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 Corporation Limited, who is also the owner of Melbourne Airport, in conjunction with Launceston City Council. 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.[5]
Terminal building
The terminal building services the four interstate airlines: QantasLink, Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways Australia.
Presently the small terminal is inadequate for the amount of passengers that pass through each day. At times where there are 3-4 planes on the tarmac the terminal can become extremely congested. [citation needed]
Terminal Upgrade
A much needed $20 million dollar upgraded has just been started in June and is expected to be finished in mid 2009. [6]
The project will consist of three main parts that will provide Checked Bag Screening and new check in counter areas, new baggage reclaim procedure, with the use of two baggage carousels and new passenger lounges and screening facilities. This will approximately double the floor area of the terminal allowing for greater space passenger movement and associated activities.
The first of the three parts of the project, the check bag screening and check in counters will be operational by December 2008, as required by Federal legislation for passenger security. The other two areas will come on stream in stages over the remaining construction period.
The refurbishment of the departures area will allow a single location for all airlines to provide check in facilities at the 12 new counters. These counters are linked to a new baggage handling system to a new check bag screening process for all baggage travelling on aircraft.
A revised passenger screening point will increase the level of space provided to passengers during the screening process.
For departing passengers new apron level gate lounges of approximately 1200m2 provide space and security for passengers waiting to board aircrafts. For arriving passengers, a new baggage handling building of 500m2 incorporating two new baggage carousels will improve baggage reclaim activities for passengers.
For attending public, an expansion of an additional 1000m2 of the main passenger public lounge area and refurbished retail areas, will provide additional space and seating areas with a view of the apron and runway. [7]
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.
Airport Shuttle Buses operate mainly from the City Centre to the airport.
Launceston Airport Business Park
In a separate development adjacent to the airport site there is a A$200m business park under construction which will include a Caltex service station, an Airport Motor Inn, retail showrooms and also plans for a A$36m Big Box retail development.[citation needed]
Passenger 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. [8]
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Airlines and destinations
Virgin Blue currently has four flights from Melbourne and one from Sydney each day. Jetstar flies in three flights from Melbourne, one from Sydney and also one from Brisbane. Qantas Link flies in twice a day from Melbourne. Tiger Airways currently has only the one flight into Lauceston Airport each day, which is also from Melbourne. There is usually a total of 13 aircraft arriving and 13 departing each day. [12]
Tiger Airways will add another Launceston to Melbourne service, starting on December 15. [13]
Virgin Blue will also operate a Launceston to Brisbane service from December 15, until April 4. [14]
| Destinations by Region |
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| Airlines | Destinations |
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| Airlines of Tasmania | Flinders Island |
| Australian air Express | Melbourne-Tullamarine |
| Jetstar Airways | Brisbane, Melbourne-Tullamarine, Sydney |
| Qantas | Melbourne-Tullamarine |
| Tiger Airways Australia | Melbourne-Tullamarine |
| Virgin Blue | Brisbane (seasonal) [begins 15 December[15]], Melbourne-Tullamarine, Sydney |
See also
References
- ^ Airservices Australia
- ^ Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia - Media Releases
- ^ Launceston Historical Society Inc
- ^ A Brief History of Aviation in Tasmania and the Launceston Airport
- ^ Jetstar congratulates Launceston Airport on one million passenger milestone
- ^ Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia - Media Releases
- ^ [http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=549 Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia - Media Releases
- ^ http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/uploads/files/Master%20Plan/2005%20Master%20Plan.pdf
- ^ Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia - Passenger/Aircraft Statistics
- ^ http://www.melbourneairport.com.au/downloads/pdfs/08%2026%20-%20APAC%20end%20of%20year%20wrap.pdf
- ^ "Australian Domestic Airline Activity" (Website). Aviation Statistics. Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics. 2008. pp. p. 4. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
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- ^ [http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do?airportCode=LST&airportQueryDate=2008-09-07&airportQueryTimePeriod=2&airportQueryType=1 Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia - Media Releases
- ^ [http://northerntasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/economy-business-it-finance/tiger-airways-doubles-tassie-flights/1257943.aspx Launceston Airport, Tasmania, Australia - Media Releases
- ^ [http://www.virginblue.com.au/AboutUs/Media/NewsandPressReleases/P_005535.htm
- ^ http://www.virginblue.com.au/AboutUs/Media/NewsandPressReleases/P_005535.htm