Virgin Australia
Study has shown that Sydney needs a second airport, extra terminals, extra flights, and more space. This is clear because Kingsford Smith, the current airport is busy and not only from overseas flights, but also domestic. Locations in the Nepean locality that were accessed deemed fit for either type 3 or type 1 airport due to the potential demand of its usage (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012). Research has also shown that the Sydney-Melbourne route was the fifth busiest in the world and with the population growth that is anticipated, it will soon not be able to meet the needs of the population. In the year 2036, an estimated 7.5 billion people are expected to occupy Sydney and the 54 million expected passengers will be too much for the Kingsford Smith (Blee, 2010).
There is an indication that the airline industry in the new south whales region is likely to attract new market as new stakeholders enter the market. They are more likely to operate in the new airports due to the new technology and transfer of service from the old airport (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012).
Despite the talk that the airport would be further expanded, the airline would reach a critical mass proving thus difficult for further expansion. Therefore, it is better advise to build a new airport now rather than later. The expansion development likely to take place is the expansion to Kurnell or Botany Bay, modified infrastructure and the development of offshore airport (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012). However, the options considered are not realistic on price and operational ability. If such a project ever took place, the capacity would go down thus reducing the profits to be generated by the airline. The noise generated in the Kurnell area would increase yet the population surrounding the airport would as well increase. The land availability at the bay would also be challenged by the fact that the oil refinery, desalination plant and the airports third terminal is already constrained.
The offshore project would also bring more problems in comparison with the benefits that it is likely to generate. The first reason that rendered it unworkable is the due to the expenses that it would incur. This is due to the need of vessel transportation and the technology needed to build the airport and avoid environmental calamities. Secondly, the passenger accessibility would also be a problem since there has not been a formulated mode of transport for massive number of people expected to use this facility (Smith, 2011).
Other options have been reviewed though they do not seem as promising as having a new airport in the Sydney area. Recommendations were also made by the steering committee to transfer some of the Kingsford smith businesses to smaller airports like Bankstown and Richmond (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012). These are some of the airports considered to serve some of Sydney’s significant region. However, these locations would also need a lot of construction to accommodate the bigger airplanes in its runways. The Bankstown airport would also find it as a further challenge to accommodate jet aircraft even after the renovations. To extend the runways, the airport has to get approval from the public consultation. These would pose as a challenge since the airport lies in an urban area and extension space would be minimal.
On the other hand, the use of these airports would reduce the workload of the Kingsford Smith airport. If considered they would open venues to natural market due to their mare existence (1995). Another airport in consideration is the Richmond RAAF base. Since it is a military base with already heavy aircraft in consideration. These would be the most sensible alternative after the new airport in Sydney. This would work out apart from the fact that it would require customers to utilize the RAAF base but this would take some time thus translating to lose. Despite those reservations, it would only take 500 million dollars to renovate the RAAF base to fit civilian passengers, which is less than all the other options discussed above (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012)
. There would also be ready market because as estimated, by the year 2039, half of Sydney’s population would reside in western Sydney giving the RAAF base half the business. Other companies may also be interested to invest in it in giving local flights due to their unavailability at the current airport.
Research has unveiled that the aviation activities have been growing over the decade and 40.1 million regular public transport passengers move through Kingsford smith airport, Canberra and New castle airport. Also, 400,000 tones of international freight and 100,000 tones of domestic freight accounting for 50% and 30% of Australia’s business (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012). This is not going to remain constant. Population and economic growth will take place and the demand will increase. It is expected that the demand for domestic flight will increase by 32% by the year 2060 and the freight demand is expected o remain in Sydney. However, the other airports will also increase their demand but not as much. The military movement is expected to remain constant apart from the Richmond RAAF base that is expected to launch the joint Strike Fighter program in the year 2017. The demand for passenger movement at the Kingsford Smith airport is expected to double by the 2035 and quadruple in 2060.
Sustained expansion of business in Sydney, up-and-coming international market like china and India and the progress of new innovative Low Cost Carrier (LCC) markets will be significant in the demand growth, which will need to be accommodated in the Sydney region (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012).
It has then been noted that the main factor that is causing congestion in the Sydney region is the increased public regular transport passengers. The main route is in the Sydney central business district and other transport hubs. This may then lead to the demolition of residential areas like Alexandria and Mascot since they are next to Kingsford Smith airport. They also have the flat topography that would be suitable for infrastructure expansion. The other alternative would be the building of high ground speed transport system. These would take care of the PRT overflow. The railway system would connect Sydney and Canberra. This would make Canberra the second airport and take care of the few flights that take care of that route (2011).
However, the New South Wales government agreed on an aviation strategic plan for the Sydney region to ensure adequate transport capacity in the future. This proves that the stakeholders approve of the new airport and are sure that Sydney is ready for it. The stakeholders include The Virgin Australia Group, Australian Airports Association, Regional Express, and Tiger Airways Australia among others. The committee considered using the commonwealth owned Badgery’s creek site due to its appropriateness in terms of existing transport, and zoning requirements (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012). The vastness of the land is also another factor.
The Steering Committee considered that Sydney needed another airport due to several factors. These were the high demand of the aviation services in Sydney, economic and population growth anticipated, and the capacity of the existing aerodromes in the Sydney region and their ability to meet future demand. Ground transport in form of high-speed trains were also discussed and its impact on the aviation industry. Noise and traffic as environmental and social impacts on surrounding communities were determined and accessed. The cost of the project and whether an additional airport was a viable option were accessed and discussed by the committee and professionals were consulted (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012).
After the 2009 Steering Committee, the need for another airport in Sydney was recommended but no actions have been seen that have started the building of these needed infrastructure. This is because issue is highly politicized which not the right thing to do is (2012). Sydney needs the airport as well as the whole of the New South Whales region. It would increase tourism, employment, and in over all the economic growth of the region. This would also be relevant due to the high number of overnight visitors who stay in Sydney. The factor of extra tourism was also considered and the large number confirmed that soon, despite the other changes to be made, Sydney must have another airport (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012). The only impediment is the government politicking instead of funding.
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