- Ayers Rock Airport
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Ayers Rock Airport
Connellan Airport
Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport
IATA: AYQ – ICAO: YAYE Location of airport in Northern Territory
AYQSummary Airport type Public Operator Voyager Resorts & Hotels Pty Ltd. Location Ayers Rock Elevation AMSL 1,626 ft / 496 m Coordinates 25°11′10″S 130°58′32″E / 25.18611°S 130.97556°ECoordinates: 25°11′10″S 130°58′32″E / 25.18611°S 130.97556°E Runways Direction Length Surface m ft 13/31 2,599 8,527 Asphalt Source: Enroute Supplement Australia from Airservices Australia[1] Ayers Rock Airport (also known as Connellan Airport) (IATA: AYQ, ICAO: YAYE) is situated near Yulara, around 463 km (288 mi) (5 hrs drive) away from Alice Springs, Northern Territory, and 20 minutes drive from Uluru (Ayers Rock) itself. An average of 400,000 passenger movements per year pass through this airport in the middle of Australia.
Contents
History
Connellan Airport was originally started by EJ Connellan. He started an airline called "Connellan Airways" which specialised in transport, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Mail runs. The planes that were used in this airline were usually "Butterflies" which were given to them from Qantas, Douglas DC3s, and a few other planes.The development of tourism infrastructure adjacent to the base of Uluru that began in the 1950s soon produced adverse environmental impacts. It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres (40 sq mi) of land beyond the park's northern boundary, 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Uluru, was approved for the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara. The new facilities became fully operational in late 1984.
On the 6th of August, 2000, at 8:41am AEST, an Ansett Airbus A320-211 VH-HYN), arrived from Auckland Airport, New Zealand, carrying the Sydney Olympic Torch for its inaugural Australian leg. From there, the torch was taken for a run around Ayers Rock, followed by a formal reception.
Airport facilities
Ayers Rock Airport has one main terminal for scheduled flights which contains: Check-in, Customs Baggage Screening, a single Baggage collection conveyor belt, a National Geographic shop, vending machines, Toilets, Departure and Arrival areas, Bus bays and Short term parking.
The largest aircraft that Ayers Rock Airport caters for is Boeing 737-800s operated by Qantas and Virgin Australia. QantasLink operate a number of Boeing 717-200s in and out of the airport.
Technical aspects
The runway at Ayers Rock Airport is 2,599 × 30 m (8,527 × 98 ft). It has a simple, single stage lighting system and T-VASIS.
Airlines and destinations
Airlines Destinations Qantas Sydney Qantas operated by QantasLink Alice Springs, Cairns, Perth Virgin Australia Sydney In addition, there are a wide number of scenic flights that are offered by different private charters.
Qantas operates Boeing 737-400/800's, Qantaslink operates Boeing 717-200's and Virgin Australia operates Boeing 737-800's (previously Embraer E-190's) in and out of Ayers Rock Airport. All Qantaslink services are operated by National Jet Systems.
Other aviation
The main user of the airport are light aircraft- either charter, scenic flights or private owned aircraft.
References
- ^ YAYE – AYERS ROCK/CONNELLAN (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 25 August 2011
External links
Categories:- Airports in the Northern Territory
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