AirAsia to shift Melbourne operations to Avalon Airport under 10-year deal

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Group announced today that it will move its Melbourne, Australia, operations to Avalon Airport from Tullamarine Airport later this year under a 10-year agreement.
The low-cost carrier said in a statement that AirAsia flights will continue to operate from Tullamarine Airport until flights from Avalon Airport are operational.
AirAsia X Malaysia will operate twice-daily flights as the first international carrier at the airport, making long-haul flying affordable for Melbourne and the Victoria region, and improving access to more than 130 destinations in Asia and beyond.
In the first year of operation, a total of 500,000 international passengers are projected to move through Avalon Airport, which is just 50 minutes to the Melbourne Central Business District and the closest international airport to Great Ocean Road, a tourist attraction linking the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford.
Since its inaugural flight in 2007, AirAsia X has flown over 30 million guests, including 6.1 million Australians, AirAsia Group CEO and AirAsia X Co-Group CEO Tony Fernandes said.
“We are proud to renew our commitment to making air travel affordable for Australians with this move to Avalon, which will help us maintain our cost edge and allow us to continue offering low fares to Asean, Asia and beyond,” he said.
“This is a 10-year agreement structured to accommodate AirAsia X’s significant growth. It is the first such deal in Australia, and provides a unique low-cost opportunity for people and businesses to access over 130 destinations throughout Asia,” noted Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings.
Linfox Airports executive chairman David Fox expects around half a million international passengers to use Avalon Airport, which is owned by Linfox Group, in the first year of operation.