Adelaide Airport reaches 15-year milestone

Adelaide Airport Ltd (AAL) has celebrated its 15th anniversary since it signed a 99 year lease with the Federal Government to operate Adelaide and Parafield Airports.

Managing Director Mark Young said AAL had invested $450 million in infrastructure projects since 1998, with a further $350m of projects currently under consideration to take place over the next 5 years.

Passenger numbers have increased by more than 80 per cent since 1998, with the strongest growth recorded in the international sector.

“Our international passenger numbers have grown by more than 2½ times in the past 15 years, and we now have more than 40 international flights a week to cities across the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions,” Mr Young said.

“Our passenger numbers continue to climb, and we’re currently the fastest growing airport for international services in Australia.

“A significant proportion of this growth can be attributed to infrastructure upgrades, in particular construction of the new international and domestic terminal.

“More recently we’ve invested in multi-level car parking facilities and other ground transport facilities.

“We’ve also invested in critical infrastructure that has allowed us to create strategic business precincts for warehousing, commercial and industrial development.

“Our next major infrastructure project will be to expand apron facilities to the north and south of the terminal.

“Meanwhile, Parafield Airport is now arguably Australia’s premier location for flight training, with a number of international airlines choosing Parafield to train their pilots.”

Mr Young said the overall success of the privatisation of Australia’s major airports had been highlighted in a recent Deloitte Access Economics report into the sector’s economic and social contribution.

“The report found that in 2011, Australia’s airports generated a total economic contribution of around $17.3 billion, or 1.2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product,” Mr Young said.

“Adelaide Airport is South Australia’s largest single site employment precinct, directly creating jobs for 5,200 people, and contributes 2.3 per cent to the Gross State Product.”
“Airports also fulfil the basic social function of connecting individuals, families and communities with the rest of the country and indeed world.

“They also facilitate critical medical services including Care Flight and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the delivery of time-sensitive freight such as perishable products and mail, and the transfer of workers to job sites and employment centres.”

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Please contact Mark Williams at Hughes Public Relations on 08 8412 4102 or mark@hughespr.com.au