Sydney Airport plans to integrate international, domestic and regional services

Australia's Sydney Airport announced (05-Dec-2011) its intention to commence broad stakeholder consultation on a new vision for the airport which sees the transformation into two airline alliance-based precincts integrating international, domestic and regional services under the one roof by 2019. Under the proposal it is envisaged the current domestic terminals, T2 and T3, will accommodate the Qantas Group, including Jetstar and international partners. The current international terminal precinct, T1, would accommodate Virgin Australia and its international partners. Sydney Airport's other international airline partners would operate from T1 as present. The proposal also includes the construction of a new Qantas Engineering complex for line maintenance to support the carrier's current and future fleet, and a new Virgin Australia hangar for wide and narrowbody aircraft that will serve as a dedicated maintenance base in Sydney. Sydney Airport will evaluate the proposal in the context of the 2014 Master Plan process which is scheduled to begin in late 2013.

Sydney Airport: "To facilitate this exciting new vision Sydney Airport has signed non-binding MoU with its major domestic airline customers, the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia to progress the proposal. The MoU between Sydney Airport and the Qantas Group includes a commitment to explore the benefits and financial implications of an early reversion of long term leases. The Qantas Group currently has long-term leases on airport land, which includes Terminal 3, the Qantas Jet Base and the Qantas Freight Base," CEO, Kerrie Mather. Source: Company statement, 05-Nov-2011. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - Jetstar] [more - original PR - Sydney Airport presentation]