The low-cost carrier said in a statement that AirAsia flights will continue to operate from Tullamarine Airport until flights from Avalon Airport are operational later this year.
AirAsia Group announced yesterday (February 4) that it will move its Melbourne, Australia, operations to Avalon Airport from Tullamarine Airport later this year under a 10-year agreement.
The low-cost carrier said in a statement that AirAsia flights will continue to operate from Tullamarine Airport until flights from Avalon Airport are operational later this year.
AirAsia X Malaysia will operate twice-daily flights as the first international carrier at the airport, which will connect the Melbourne and the Victorian region to more than 130 destinations in Asia and beyond.
“This is an exciting milestone for AirAsia X. Since our inaugural flight in 2007, AirAsia X has flown over 30 million guests, including 6.1 million Australians – tourists wanting to experience amazing Australia, students from across the globe and Australians who wish to see the world,” said AirAsia Group CEO and AirAsia X Co-Group CEO Tony Fernandes.
A total of 500,000 international passengers are projected to move through Avalon Airport in the first year of operations.
Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings said, “This is a 10-year agreement structured to accommodate AirAsia X’s significant growth. It is the first such deal in Australia, and provides a unique low-cost opportunity for people and businesses. Avalon Airport is easily accessible from Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and surrounds.”
To accommodate the move, the airport will need to build an international terminal and secure immigration, quarantine and Border Force agencies, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.
In 2015, the federal government amended Avalon’s lease to allow it to build an international terminal or expand its existing terminal to accommodate international operations.
It also has approval to construct additional runways and can offer unrestricted access to international carriers.
The airport has been operating as a commercial airport since 2004 but currently houses Qantas' low-cost arm Jetstar, which flies to Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and the Gold Coast.