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Townsville Airport proposes passenger charge increase as part of terminal expansion

written by australianaviation.com.au | May 20, 2015

An aerial shot of Townsville Airport.
An aerial shot of Townsville Airport.

Townsville Airport is asking travellers to support an increase in passenger charges to help fund its terminal redevelopment.

The proposed expansion to the terminal, which has been submitted to the federal government for approval and has been released for public consultation, would result in two new airline lounges, more space for security screening, baggage handling, checkin desks, retail shops and food outlets.

Also, the current international departures area would be reconfigured with swing gates able to handle both domestic and international flights, while some offices and engineering facilities would be relocated to free up more space.

The Major Development Plan (MDP) says the terminal’s floor space would be increased by 20 per cent to 20,000 square metres, from 16,700 square metres currently.

Should the plan be given the green light, construction was due to begin at the start of 2016 and be completed in 12 months.

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“Constructed in 1981 with upgrades in 1997 and 2003, the existing terminal building is an aging asset that needs significant layout and functional improvements to accommodate existing and projected passenger growth and address the capacity constraints,” the MDP said.

“The entry of low cost and value carriers, significant increases in connecting flights from Townsville and fluctuations in the economic climate over the past 10 years have changed the composition of passengers since the terminal building was last upgraded.”

Townsville Airport’s domestic departure lounge was currently at capacity, the MDP said, while baggage areas were reaching capacity and security screening areas had limited queuing space and was a cause of congestion.

“Customer feedback has indicated that satisfaction levels with the terminal facilities are progressively declining,” the MDP said.

“The lack of adequate space in the airport lounge facility, conflicting passenger flows in the upper concourse and limited offerings of food and beverage in airside areas are key items of dissatisfaction.

“The redevelopment of the Townsville Airport terminal will reduce existing congestion and passenger flow conflicts during peak times and provide an improved quality of service for airport customers.”

The proposed development was anticipated to have a project cost in excess of $50 million, the MDP said.

Passenger numbers at Townsville Airport were expected to grow between three and four per cent per year, rising from 1.6 million in 2013/14 to 3.6 million by 2030.

Queensland Airports Ltd, (QAL) which operates Townsville Airport, said it would fund the initial redevelopment works detailed in the MDP.

However, QAL chief executive Dennis Chant said the airport would “ask airline passengers to pay up to $3.00 extra on the price of an airfare in and out of Townsville Airport from 2017”, once the first phase of major works was complete.

“These charges are still lower than our peers at Cairns and Darwin and, in real dollar terms, are a significant discount to the charges set 10 years ago,” Chant said in a statement.

“The reality for regional airports, like Townsville, is that this sort of major infrastructure project will not happen without some kind of increase in charges. Townsville Airport charges for major airline partners have essentially remained static for a decade, which is not sustainable.”

The Townsville Airport website says the current the terminal usage charge per domestic passenger comprised of a $5.49 terminal usage or common user charge, a $6.90 aeronautical charge and $2.15 passenger and checked bag screening charge. The charges were scheduled to increase on July 1 2015.

The passenger charge increase would only apply to domestic flights, with international flights exempt for the first five years.

Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said the MDP was “phase-one of a program of infrastructure upgrades that we will progress over the next 10 years” and called on the community to support the increase in passenger charges.

“We will deliver ongoing facility improvements as well as hundreds of construction jobs throughout this project, at a time Townsville needs them most,” Gill said.

“This is about the airport taking part in the revitalisation of this city.”

The public comment period closes on August 5.

The full MDP can be found on the airport’s website.

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Comments (8)

  • blacky

    says:

    I can’t see a benefit in making townsville bigger. With the price that the airlines charge to go there it would be more cost effective to by a branson ticket into space and freefall skydive back down into there.

  • Craigy

    says:

    This is no different to what Brisbane Airport is trying to do by getting the airlines to pay now for a runway to be built instead of funding the capital themselves.

  • teddy

    says:

    The terminal redevelopment should include a large reef tank to show off the city’s connections with the Great Barrier Reef. Colourful corals and tropical fish in the right tank will provide an excellent spectacle, and forever lift the terminal beyond its utilitarian roots. If Townsville wants to compete with Cairns for some of the regional international services like Silk Air and Philippines Airlines, everything down to the terminal needs to send the message that Townsville is serious, ready for tourists, and a spectacle worthy of the investment.

  • Chuck

    says:

    Aquarium in the terminal is a good idea. Would certainly reinforce the City’s claim as a Reef Gateway.
    They could also do a scaled down version of the green wall in Changi Airport – the wall behind the baggage claim area is typically a bland space, and a green wall would improve air quality and show case tropical plants. They could extend the green wall theme through the terminal with smaller green walls in the lounges.
    Whilst they’re at it fixing the terminal, they should fix up the Meenan St access. It takes more traffic into the airport than any other route, but is a poor statement about the City. No use spending on the terminal and ignoring the feel of the surrounding environs.

  • Mac Carter

    says:

    The road access from Meenan Street needs major attention right now.
    The School zone must be relocated from the major Airport access both
    for the safety of School attendees as well as Airport users.
    The departure halls are overcrowded, hot and uncomfortable and not inviting at all.

  • Adrian

    says:

    Just had a quick look at the development plan.
    Baggage reclaim does not follow worlds best practice regarding security, baggage carousels landside and penetrate airside/landside boundary. Is the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development serious about security or is the terror threat only there when the government wants to scare everybody.

  • Tropicalcat

    says:

    I worked at Cairns during the recent Domestic Terminal rebuild and remember well that at planning concept stage an aquarium was floated. It never came to fruition but agree that it would lift TSV as it is pretty drab and functional. Suspect that advertising will steal the baggage reclaim back wall though. The airside is definitely too small and the retail offering is also poor so I’d think some extra space and a bit of retail would help. Sadly do agree that TSV to anywhere prices are expensive generally.

  • Random

    says:

    Aquarium – brilliant idea. Green walls – saw these in Edmonton Airport in Canada – they were fantastic. The Edmonton one would work perfectly and would probably be better than the Changi Singapore one given the space. One can only hope the airport planners are reading and taking these ideas in – and that the plan is not yet set. Townsville needs a wow factor – and a point of difference.

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