AirAsia dumps Avalon and returns to Tullamarine

[Saab34]

We now have one giant lemon of a international terminal (taxpayer paid how much again) which will probably never get used again.

AirAsia X adds three new key routes to Australia and New Zealand — AirAsia Newsroom

AirAsia X (AAX), the medium to long-haul affiliate airline of AirAsia Aviation Group announces its latest services to Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Perth in Australia as well as Auckland in New Zealand which will all take flight from 1st November 2022.

newsroom.airasia.com

 

[aaa99]

Love the picture of Auckland in the ad. Exactly how i remember it to be

 

[Quickstatus]

(taxpayer paid how much again)

This much

 

[Mattg]

Interesting to see that they're also launching KUL-SYD-AKL. Seats are available for sale on the SYD-AKL leg, although the Premium Flatbed price is a bit boring. (FWIW, you might get a better price for Premium Flatbed booking ex AKL.)

 

[kpc]

This much

Another example of governments wasting taxpayer funds! A church in Perth also comes to mind....

 

[Quickstatus]

wasting taxpayer funds!

But most are driven by votes. Basically I blame the voters.

In the world of pork barreling, it’s a very small keg

 

[Saab34]

Andrews is always blowing taxpayer cash at airlines.

He gave Etihad a grant to increase to daily flights a few months ago. Dumb as they would have done that without a taxpayer handout. They got a handout a few years back when moving to double daily. So what’s this grant for?

Qatar got a grant for its second daily flight via Canberra. As did Bamboo.

Jetstar is being funded at Avalon until 2028.

I would much rather Jetstar just exit Avalon.

 

[jase05]

Andrews is always blowing taxpayer cash at airlines.

He gave Etihad a grant to increase to daily flights a few months ago. Dumb as they would have done that without a taxpayer handout. They got a handout a few years back when moving to double daily. So what’s this grant for?

Qatar got a grant for its second daily flight via Canberra. As did Bamboo.

Jetstar is being funded at Avalon until 2028.

I would much rather Jetstar just exit Avalon.

And of course Dan Andrews just happens to be a very close friend of Lindsay Fox who owns Avalon

 

[jakeseven7]

We now have one giant lemon of a international terminal (taxpayer paid how much again) which will probably never get used again.

AirAsia X adds three new key routes to Australia and New Zealand — AirAsia Newsroom

AirAsia X (AAX), the medium to long-haul affiliate airline of AirAsia Aviation Group announces its latest services to Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Perth in Australia as well as Auckland in New Zealand which will all take flight from 1st November 2022.

newsroom.airasia.com

I'm sure it will.

 

[dajop]

Subsidies to AVV may well be the best way to keep MEL honest. I am sure Air Asia are getting a good deal from APAC at MEL because they are negotiating from a position of strength wrt being able to say no thanks we’ll stick to AVV.

 

[Melburnian1]

Subsidies to AVV may well be the best way to keep MEL honest. I am sure Air Asia are getting a good deal from APAC at MEL because they are negotiating from a position of strength wrt being able to say no thanks we’ll stick to AVV.

Better to let the market decide.

 

[dajop]

Better to let the market decide.

Markets work well where there aren’t monopolies. But usually where there is some form of monopoly some government intervention or regulation usually helps the consumer.

 

[Melburnian1]

Markets work well where there aren’t monopolies. But usually where there is some form of monopoly some government intervention or regulation usually helps the consumer.

Maybe, but MEL isn't a classic 'monopoly', as in many cases, aspirant users can drive (such as to ABX, ADL, MGB, MQL or SYD) catch the train and connecting coach (such as to ABX, GFF, MQL, MGB and others), or for international trips use Sydney Airport instead. These may take longer but they are a choice for some users.

 

[Quickstatus]

MEL isn't a classic 'monopoly'

Airports have monopolistic features - it is a fully utilised infrastructure asset which cannot easily be reproduced nearby.

My superfund is a major shareholder of IFM Investors which took a 25% stake in the airport. Thank you everyone for using MEL, just be reassured that your queuing at the airport has a benefit…

 

[Saab34]

Avalon will become a bigger player probably later this century when the likes of Geelong/Lara/Werribee actually all join. Ie-the Melbourne metro area will stretch from Mornington right around to the surf coast. That day will come perhaps in 100-200 years.

 

[HS-TQE]

Andrews isn't the only premier to throw subsidies at airlines to start services and he won't be the last to do so either. Annastacia and Mark has done so quite a number of times, and even Dominic got into the subsidy theme with those SYD-India non-stop flights on QF.

 

[jb747]

Avalon will become a bigger player probably later this century when the likes of Geelong/Lara/Werribee actually all join. Ie-the Melbourne metro area will stretch from Mornington right around to the surf coast. That day will come perhaps in 100-200 years.

What an horrendous thought. They’re shockers of places now.

 

[Saab34]

Haha. Yes I don’t plan on living in Melbourne upon retirement lol. Pretty bad at the moment let alone mid this century.

 

[dajop]

Avalon will become a bigger player probably later this century when the likes of Geelong/Lara/Werribee actually all join. Ie-the Melbourne metro area will stretch from Mornington right around to the surf coast. That day will come perhaps in 100-200 years.

Still think they should just dispense with this Melbourne (Avalon) nonsense and AVV IATA code. Just call a spade a spade .. Geelong/Surf Coast Airport. With the IATA code of the old Geelong Airport - GEX. Or multi code it like EAP/BSL/MLH

Geelong now has population of 270,000, add in surrounding shires to the south west and the region is up to 350,000. Should be able to support an airport, especially with MEL being anywhere from 40 mins to 1:40 further than AVV (depending on traffic on Westgate or the Ring Road). And a lot of Geelong's growth is not towards Melbourne or MEL - in fact much of it is spreading its tentacles out the Bellarine and south towards Torquay.

 

[Saab34]

Would be interesting to see if QF or VA put up half dozen AVV-SYD flights up. Might be more popular. Perhaps the issue is Jetstar.

If Virgin did that I would basically never never use Tullamarine.