Jet ready to go
Owen Jacques | 27th January 2012
THE Coast will become a $3 million base for new commuter charter airline JetGo Australia as it prepares to begin fly-in, fly-out routes by late March.
After a year of negotiation, the company has announced it will build a maintenance hangar at Sunshine Coast Airport.
It follows revelations earlier this month that Skytrans would fly workers from Marcoola to Queensland mines owned by Rio Tinto.
However, emerging airline JetGo has been chartered on behalf of at least one Sunshine Coast mining services firm.
"Essentially we are operating a fly-in, fly-out service from Sydney, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, " a spokesman said but he declined to name clients on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.
He said the Coast was a top choice because the cost of ground lease for hangar construction in Brisbane was more than $250,000 a year. Access would also be easier with fewer aircrafts demanding access to the tarmac.
JetGo will be the first Coast commuter airline to use jets in the under 50 seat market, matching the commuting time of those who drove to Brisbane to work.
"Typically, our competitor's aircraft are turbo prop - from Brisbane to Emerald takes about one hour 40 minutes in a typical Dash-8. Our flights are approximately 50 minutes," the spokesman said.
The 37-seat Embraer 135LR jets could begin flying twice a week by late March, following final regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. "A lot of the companies (using JetGo) will pick up workers in Brisbane, go via the Sunshine Coast then fly to Moranbah," he said.
This high-speed travel would create "a new world" for Coast workers, according to economic development councillor Lew Brennan.
"It's an opportunity for us to break into new markets and new business," he said.
He credited airport general manager Peter Pallot with a "tremendous amount of hard work".
"I would also like to congratulate the company that has stepped up and committed to the Coast," Cr Brennan said.
As previously said by myself, i wish them all the success and look forward to seeing their ERJ 135'S in Queensland skies.(Lloyd)
A $180 million nine storey, 5,000 space car park, the largest single-structure car park in the southern hemisphere, will open tomorrow at Brisbane Airport.
The new car park is part of a $250 million upgrade to the Domestic Terminal precinct. In addition to the car park, the upgrade will see new roads around the Domestic Terminal and an elevated skywalk from the car parks to the terminal. The upgrade of the Domestic Terminal precinct follows the opening of the $220 million Moreton Drive in 2009.
Stage 1, Levels 2-5 of the car park, will open at 7am on Tuesday 17 January 2012 (subject to weather and construction schedules). Remaining levels will open in coming weeks.
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) Head of Corporate Relations, Rachel Crowley, said once complete, the Domestic Terminal precinct would add significant extra capacity on the roads and in the car parks, providing passengers with a more efficient and convenient experience.
“Tomorrow’s opening will be the very first stage of the upgrade and while there are still a few finishing touches to be completed we’re well on our way. We wanted to open this first stage as soon as possible to provide more parking capacity for everyone who uses the Domestic Terminal.
“Constructing a new car park and road network in the middle of an airport terminal which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week has been a complex process. We are grateful to our customers for their patience during this construction period and we’re sure they’ll be happy when they see the finished product later this year.”
Ms Crowley said the new short-term multi-level car park is part of Brisbane Airport’s commitment to provide the best possible facilities for its customers.
“When it’s finished this new car park will provide world-class park-finding technology which indicates available car spaces; extra lighting; undercover walkway access to the terminal; safety and security (CCTV cameras); parking for people with disabilities; 24-hour management; and express entry/exit ramps as well as online booking.”
The new multi-level car park coming on line will provide significant additional capacity for short-term, bringing the total number of parking spaces at the Domestic Terminal to 9,000.
“Thanks to the additional capacity we will have for short-term parking, we can now offer a number of new car parking products and long-term parking deals, which will provide customers with more choice and options tailored to their parking needs. These include online booking, PARKVALET and PARKPREMIUM.
“Furthermore, from 1 February any customers who book online will be able to park at the Domestic Terminal PARKLONG car park for the weekend for only $49. We will also soon be introducing a $99 for one week deal with online booking,” Ms Crowley said.
SOURCE BAC.
