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Avalon Airport is embarking on major upgrades ahead of the launch of new international Jetstar services next year.
Melbourne’s second major airport recently opened an upgraded freight facility and will see Jetstar flights to Bali commence in March 2026. The airport will also receive its first public bus route in coming months, complementing the existing SkyBus service.
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One thousand new seats will be added across the airport’s international and domestic terminals, alongside runway lighting upgrades, new security equipment, CCTV, new control tower water connections, and an extra 500 parking spaces.
According to Victoria’s Minister for Regional Development, Jaclyn Symes, the upgrades themselves will create around 80 new jobs on top of the increased visitor economy benefits.
“This infrastructure will set the foundation for even more flights in regional Victoria for years to come,” she said.
A new Route 18 bus service, running seven days a week, will connect the airport to Lara Station on the Geelong line, allowing easier transit access. Victoria’s Minister for Public Transport, Gabrielle Williams, said it will be a “vital public transport connection for passengers and workers”.
“The new bus route will deliver better public transport options for Avalon and ensure improved access for thousands of workers and passengers every day, together with the additional services on the Geelong Line delivered last year,” she said.
Avalon, Victoria’s secondary international airport, is 45 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD and 20 minutes from Geelong. It is currently served only by Jetstar and FlyPelican, and like Tullamarine has no dedicated rail link, with Lara Station eight minutes away by road.
Speaking to Australian Aviation last year, then-CEO Tony Brun said a “London Luton-style” rail link to the airport could be easily set up.
“We build a new train station on the existing Melbourne-Geelong line, and we build a dead straight road from the terminal to that train station using the existing road interchange on the freeway, and we connect it from day one with a bus and/or trackless tram,” he said.
“We don’t bother diverting the train, because that’ll only upset Melbourne to Geelong people – we put a train station there that’s dedicated for Avalon travel, and we connect it day one with bus or trackless tram, and one day it’ll be permanent monorail or whatever,” he said.
“It’ll be done when we’ve got the passenger numbers to justify it, but you’ll be able to buy a Myki ticket out of Southern Cross station or Frankston station or Geelong station and get to Avalon Airport.”
Jetstar is set to add more than 330,000 seats to Avalon per year with the launch of new and upgraded services in March.
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