SECURING THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA’S METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 INTRODUCTION 5 BACKGROUND – THE HISTORY OF OUR METRO AIRPORTS 6 PROFILING AUSTRALIA’S METRO AIRPORTS 8 AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE - ISSUES IMPACTING AUSTRALIA’S METRO AIRPORTS 28 CASE STUDIES 32 CONCLUSION 35 CONTENTS ii SECURING THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA’S METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2014 ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION The Australian Airports Association (AAA) is the There are a further 100 corporate partners national industry voice for airports in Australia. representing aviation stakeholders and The AAA represents the interests of more than organisations that provide goods and services to 260 airports and aerodromes Australia wide – from the airport sector. The AAA facilitates co-operation local country community landing strips to major among all member airports and their many and international gateway airports. The AAA’s members varied partners in Australian aviation, whilst include Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, contributing to an air transport system that is safe, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Perth, Melbourne and secure, environmentally responsible and efficient Sydney airports. for the benefit of all Australians and visitors. The AAA serves airports across the entire national If you have any questions regarding this document aviation infrastructure network. This includes: please contact the AAA on 02 6230 1110. » Tier 1 Capital City Airports; » Tier 2 Non-Capital International Gateway Airports; » Tier 3 Major Regional Airports with direct interstate services; ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION 1 » Tier 4 Major Regional RPT airports without direct interstate services (with more than EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 20,000 passengers); » Tier 5 Regional Airports without direct INTRODUCTION 5 interstate services (with less than 20,000 passengers); BACKGROUND – THE HISTORY OF OUR » Tier 6 Regional Airports without Regular METRO AIRPORTS 6 Passenger Transport services (general aviation operations only); and PROFILING AUSTRALIA’S METRO AIRPORTS 8 » Tier 7 Remote Community Aerodromes (exist for community service aviation: AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE - ISSUES IMPACTING medical, emergency flights). AUSTRALIA’S METRO AIRPORTS 28 CASE STUDIES 32 CONCLUSION 35 SECURING THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA’S METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Australia’s “Metro” Airports are the secondary airports Each of the Metro Airports was “privatised” by the located in Australia’s capital cities. They are not only Commonwealth of Australia over the period 1998 to significant centres of aviation activity in their own 2003. While the Commonwealth retains ownership right, but are also a key to ensuring the future efficient of the land on which the airports are located, private operation of the primary airports in their cities. companies now hold 50-year leases with 49-year renewal options and operate the airports on a At the same time, the Metro Airports confront an commercial basis. uneasy future and require sensitive and tailored Today, each of the Metro Airports is a bustling hub of consideration by Commonwealth, State and Local aviation activity. While the primary capital city airports Governments if they are to achieve their great potential may host the vast majority of Australia’s Regular Public contribution to the future of Australian aviation and the Transport (RPT) air passenger traffic and the largest Australian economy and community more generally. aircraft, they are not necessarily the busiest airports The Metro Airports comprise: in the country. While Airservices Australia figures » Bankstown Airport and Camden Airport in Sydney; for 2013-14 show that Sydney Airport recorded the greatest number of aircraft movements in that year: » Essendon Airport and Moorabbin (Harry Hawker) Airport in Melbourne; » Jandakot Airport and Moorabbin Airport each recorded more movements than the next busiest » Archerfield Airport in Brisbane; primary capital city airport, Brisbane Airport, which » Parafield Airport in Adelaide; and in turn recorded only 0.06% more movements than » Jandakot Airport in Perth. Bankstown Airport; » Parafield Airport recorded 39% more movements The Metro Airports each have a long and colourful than Perth Airport; history during which they have made a fundamental contribution to the communities and economies of » Archerfield Airport recorded 15% move movements which they are a proud part. For example: than Adelaide Airport; » Essendon Airport is the oldest in the group, having » Camden Airport recorded more movements than commenced operations in 1921, and Jandakot Darwin Airport and Canberra Airport; and Airport, which opened in 1963, is the youngest; » Essendon Airport recorded more movements than » Essendon Airport, Archerfield Airport and Parafield Hobart Airport. Airport were the primary airports in their capital While the 11 largest airports in Australia (all capital cities for many years; and city airports, plus Gold Coast, Cairns and Alice Springs » Bankstown Airport, Camden Airport, Archerfield airports) account for about 87% of overall passenger Airport and Parafield Airport played a vital role in traffic, RPT services do operate from a number of the the defence of Australia during the Second World Metro Airports and are important to the communities War, variously playing host to aircraft of not only the they serve. For example: Royal Australian Air Force but also the United States » Sharp Airlines and Par-Avion operate from Essendon Army Air Forces, the Royal Netherlands Air Force Airport to destinations as diverse as Flinders Island, and the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Hamilton, Portland and Griffith; » Alliance Airlines operate closed charter services to Brisbane, Orange, Prominent Hill, Telfer; and » King Island Airlines operates RPT services to King Island from Moorabbin Airport. 2 SECURING THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA’S METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS Even though the Metro Airports may not see great However, while the above is all good news, there are numbers of arriving and departing RPT passengers, they challenges facing our Metro Airports that do need to do enable a wide range of other aviation activity that is be met not only by those who operate them but also of vital significance. For example: by the Commonwealth, State and Local Governments. » Private, corporate, recreational and sports aviation If Australia’s Metro Airports are to meet their great activity is centred around the Metro Airports rather potential to contribute to the future efficiency of our than primary capital city airports; and capital city airports and the Australian economy more generally, there are a range of policy and regulatory » Aeromedical, agricultural, charter, pilot training and issues that need to be addressed. While these are aerial surveying, photography and other airborne discussed in more detail later in this issues paper, the work is a constant feature of the traffic at the Metro following provides a quick snapshot. Airports. » Metro Airports must comply with the same The Metro Airports are also a key to community safety Commonwealth planning laws and requirements as and security. For example: those that apply at the far more significant primary capital cities. » NSW Air Ambulance Rescue, Royal Flying Doctor Service, NSW Police Air Wing and National Parks » Compliance with these requirements is very aircraft all operate from Bankstown Airport; expensive – and imposes a disproportionately and very heavy burden on Metro Airports than it does » Royal Flying Doctor Service, Aero Rescue, on the much, much larger primary capital city Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police Air Wing airports. aircraft all operate from Essendon Airport; » There are numerous issues with the Airports Act that » Royal Flying Doctor Service and Air Ambulance impact metro airports and need to be addressed, aircraft operate from Moorabbin Airport; and including: » Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft, DEC/DFES – The requirement for a new 20-year Master Plan Bushfire Water Bombers, the RAC Rescue Helicopter every 5 years is too frequent; and the WA Police Air Wing operate out of Jandakot Airport. – The requirement that each new Master Plan effectively be a complete re-write rather than a Metro Airports are also vital to ensuring the future more simple update is too demanding; workforce requirements of Australian and some – The “triggers” for when a Major Development international aviation are met. For example: Plan is required are set too low, have not kept » Parafield Airport is home to the Parafield Aviation pace with inflation, and apply to too many types Campus of Flight Training Adelaide, Adelaide Flight of development; Training Centre, Bruce Hartwig Flying School, TAFE – The requirement that a Major Development South Australia, to the University of South Australia Plan cannot be inconsistent with a Master Plan Aviation Academy, Aerostar and to the Parafield undesirably prevents concurrent development of Squadron of the Australian Air League; and Master Plans and Major Development Plans; » The China Southern West Australian Flying College – Public comment periods are too long; and the Singapore Flying College are based at Jandakot Airport. – Time limits for the approval or rejection of Master Plans and Major Development Plans are And Metro Airports are not limited to aviation too long; and aviation-related activity. Indeed, promoting non-aeronautical use of land and facilities at the – The processes for variation of approved Master