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AVALON will become Melbourne's second international airport with owner Linfox to spend $30 million on a new passenger terminal, creating hundreds of jobs.
The airport, already home to Jetstar domestic, could get cheap flights to Malaysia from late next year with newly arrived airline AirAsiaX.
AirAsiaX started flying between the Gold Coast and Kuala Lumpur this month, offering special launch fares from $99 one-way.
Linfox will start building a state-of-the-art international terminal east of Avalon's existing domestic facility in the first half of next year, subject to federal approval.
The 8000sq m building will include processing for customs, quarantine and immigration, and feature retail, dining, duty free and food and beverage outlets.
Linfox Airports managing director David Fox said yesterday that the terminal was going ahead in anticipation of international flights being approved.
“Our primary target is the Asia-Pacific and we believe that once up and running we will be generating more than two million passengers a year through the domestic and international terminals,” he said.
AirAsiaX CEO Azran Osman-Rani confirmed that Avalon was the airline's preferred choice for its second Australian destination.
Mr Osman-Rani said the carrier was also talking to Melbourne airport and some interstate airports, but stressed that Avalon fitted well with its low-cost model.
However, if approved, flights are not expected to start until at least October next year as AirAsiaX takes delivery of new Airbus A330 aircraft.
Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said the budget airline welcomed the Avalon upgrade, but had no immediate plans to launch international flights from the airport.
“We wouldn't rule out future international operations, but it's extremely early days and we have a very good relationship with Melbourne airport in terms of international services,” he said.
Mr Fox said that when fully operational, the new terminal would employ up to 420 people, on top of the 100 already working in the Jetstar facility and the 1000 jobs in aircraft maintenance and other aviation fields at Avalon.
“The new terminal would be a major boost for employment in the area and for businesses locally and tourism generally in Victoria,” he said.
Avalon, which can land Boeing 747 jumbos, has processed more than 2.4 million passengers since Jetstar started domestic services in June 2004.
Jetstar offers 70 return flights a week from the airport, including to Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Linfox has already spent more than $13 million upgrading Avalon, which also hosts the biennial Australian International Airshow.
The airport is 55km from Melbourne on the Geelong road.
The airport, already home to Jetstar domestic, could get cheap flights to Malaysia from late next year with newly arrived airline AirAsiaX.
AirAsiaX started flying between the Gold Coast and Kuala Lumpur this month, offering special launch fares from $99 one-way.
Linfox will start building a state-of-the-art international terminal east of Avalon's existing domestic facility in the first half of next year, subject to federal approval.
The 8000sq m building will include processing for customs, quarantine and immigration, and feature retail, dining, duty free and food and beverage outlets.
Linfox Airports managing director David Fox said yesterday that the terminal was going ahead in anticipation of international flights being approved.
“Our primary target is the Asia-Pacific and we believe that once up and running we will be generating more than two million passengers a year through the domestic and international terminals,” he said.
AirAsiaX CEO Azran Osman-Rani confirmed that Avalon was the airline's preferred choice for its second Australian destination.
Mr Osman-Rani said the carrier was also talking to Melbourne airport and some interstate airports, but stressed that Avalon fitted well with its low-cost model.
However, if approved, flights are not expected to start until at least October next year as AirAsiaX takes delivery of new Airbus A330 aircraft.
Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said the budget airline welcomed the Avalon upgrade, but had no immediate plans to launch international flights from the airport.
“We wouldn't rule out future international operations, but it's extremely early days and we have a very good relationship with Melbourne airport in terms of international services,” he said.
Mr Fox said that when fully operational, the new terminal would employ up to 420 people, on top of the 100 already working in the Jetstar facility and the 1000 jobs in aircraft maintenance and other aviation fields at Avalon.
“The new terminal would be a major boost for employment in the area and for businesses locally and tourism generally in Victoria,” he said.
Avalon, which can land Boeing 747 jumbos, has processed more than 2.4 million passengers since Jetstar started domestic services in June 2004.
Jetstar offers 70 return flights a week from the airport, including to Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Linfox has already spent more than $13 million upgrading Avalon, which also hosts the biennial Australian International Airshow.
The airport is 55km from Melbourne on the Geelong road.
