Sydney Metro Airports welcomes Bankstown Airport master plan approval

Sydney Metro Airports chief executive Lee de Winton said Bankstown Airport was a key strategic general aviation asset for New South Wales and a major employment, commercial and industrial hub.

“We have a clear vision to develop the airport into a dynamic, integrated aviation and commercial centre for Greater Western Sydney, including as a hub for emergency services, general aviation, training, logistics and destination retail,” de Winton said in a statement.

“Our implementation of the master plan 2019 will significantly increase the level of employment and economic activity generated by the airport, creating jobs at a local, regional and state level.”

The 2019 preliminary draft master plan said the airport had 3,052 direct employees, based on 2017 figures. Of those 1,897 were directly employed in air transport activities, while 1,155 were directly employed in other activities.

By 2024, this was forecast to grow to 4,702 total jobs, with 2,120 working directly in air transport activities and 2,582 working in other activities.

Bankstown and Camden airports are owned by First State Super. The two airports are known as Sydney Metro Airports Bankstown and Sydney Metro Airports Camden.

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Figures from 2019 preliminary draft master plan showed Bankstown Airport’s three parallel runways handled 244,612 total air traffic movements in the 12 months to June 30 2017, comprising 201,929 by fixed wing aircraft and 42,683 by helicopters.

This was forecast to grow by 3.8 per cent a year to 340,057 total air traffic movements by 2039, with 284,489 movements by fixed wing aircraft and 55,568 movements by helicopters.

“The modelling results indicate strong aircraft movement growth for both fixed-wing and helicopter movements in the next five years at the airport,” the 2019 preliminary draft master plan said.

“Helicopter movements are anticipated to continue to grow more rapidly than fixed-wing general aviation movements.

“General aviation continues to be the predominant form of aviation activity at Bankstown Airport and is forecast to grow by 3.8 per cent per annum to 2024.

“This is reflected in the commitments that current operators at Bankstown Airport have made for growth of their existing businesses.”

The 2019 preliminary draft master plan said the proposed Western Sydney Airport currently under construction was likely to impact operations at Bankstown Airport in the longer term.

“Impacts on airspace and potential competition for general aviation traffic in the Greater Sydney Region may exert pressure (both positive and negative) on general aviation,” the document said.

“The forecast and projections in this Master Plan have not factored in the impact of Western Sydney Airport, which is scheduled to commence operating in 2026.”

In addition to being a flight training and general aviation hub – the document said 10 flying schools were on site – Bankstown Airport was a base for the New South Wales emergency services air fleet, as well as for organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service and logistics company Toll Holdings.

Further, it said some 500 aircraft were based at the airport.

A look at the history of Bankstown Airport in Sydney’s south west was published on the Australian Aviation website in October. That story can be read here.