International airline may be close for Avalon

NEWS about the return of international flights to and from Avalon Airport could come within a week, according to the airport’s owners.

Talking at the launch of Australia Post’s new parcel warehouse in the airport precinct earlier today (Thursday, October 12), Linfox executive chair David Fox said “hopefully in the next three to four days we’ll be making some annoucements about getting our international terminals up and running again, which will be fantastic for everyone”.

Avalon built and opened an international terminal for AirAsia, which flew twice daily to and from Kuala Lumpur before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the budget carrier moved back to Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport in November 2022 and the international terminal has been dormant since then.

Speaking to the media after the official speeches, Mr Fox said Avalon was “very close” to a deal.

“We’ve had several discussions with several international airlines.

“I would like to think that wtihin the next week we will be making an announcement to reopen the international terminal.

“We’ve had a lot of support from the state and federal governments, and we’ll be asking for a lot more support from the state government; let’s make ourselves very clear.”

He said Avalon was Victoria’s second major airport, and more advanced than NSW’s second major airport now under construction in Western Sydney.

“We have an airport, we have customers that want to fly into the place but we have no financial support from the previous government.”

Mr Fox said a VIP lounge could be constructed at the international terminal, and discussions with one particular airline could result in as many as 45 flights a week at Avalon.

“We’re talking multi-destination, so we’re really close.

“And that’s only with one potential airline.”

Asked if one of the potential airlines was Qatar Airways – which is in a public dispute with Qantas about the number of flights allowed into Australia – Mr Fox said “it could be”.

“The federal government needs to have that conversation, and the minister, Catherine King, needs to find a solution.

“We are a regional airport – we don’t go through the bilateral conversation, so anyone from anywhere in the world can fly into this place.”