Canberra International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Canberra International Airport
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =

---

image-width =
caption = Land side of the main terminal building
IATA = CBR
ICAO = YSCB
type = Public
owner =
operator = Capital Airport Group Pty Ltd [ [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/co_b_by.htm Capital Airport Group Pty Ltd] ]
city-served = Canberra
location =
elevation-f = 1888
elevation-m = 575
coordinates = coord|35|18|25|S|149|11|42|E|region:AU-ACT
website = [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/ www.canberraairport.com.au]
metric-elev =
metric-rwy = Yes
r1-number = 17/35
r1-length-f = 10,738
r1-length-m = 3,273
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 12/30
r2-length-f = 5,509
r2-length-m = 1,679
r2-surface = Asphalt
footnotes =

The Canberra International Airport (also known as Canberra Airport) Airport codes|CBR|YSCB is the airport serving Australia's national capital, Canberra. Although there are no current international flight services, Air Pacific briefly offered a service to Fiji in 2004. [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/docs/hub/the_hub_issue_24.pdf] [Canberra is designated by the (Australian Government) Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government as a [http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/international/icao/desig_airports.aspx "Designated International Airport"] . (The categories of international airports are explained under the sub-heading [http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/international/icao/index.aspx "International Airports"] .)]

The Airport serves flights to and from domestic destinations, mainly in south eastern Australia. In addition to regular traffic, the airport handles diverted traffic from Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airports when weather conditions restrict landings there.

Location

The Airport is located at the intersection of Canberra's main East-West artery (Parkes Way/Pialligo Avenue) and Eastern Ring Road (Monaro Highway/Majura Road) near the semi-rural suburb of Pialligo about 8-10 minutes drive from the city centre, 15 minutes from Gungahlin and 10 minutes from Queanbeyan at non-peak times; travel times can be much longer at peak times due to traffic congestion.

The land is currently divided into five areas:
*The passenger terminal and general aviation facility are on the western side of the main runway.
*The Brindabella Business Park is adjacent to the passenger terminal. [http://www.brindabellabusinesspark.com.au/ Brindabella Business Park] ]
*The ex-air force base is on the eastern side of the main runway. This currently houses the government's VIP transport squadron and is used by visiting heads of state and military aircraft in transit.
*The rest of the ex-RAAF base area has been named Fairbairn and is being developed as another "business park" area.
*There is a retail and mixed use section on Majura Road.

History

The airport was built up from an old airstrip that was first laid down in the 1920s, not long after the National Capital site was decided. In 1939 it was taken over by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with an area leased out for civil aviation.

On 13 August 1940, in what became known as the Canberra air disaster, a RAAF Lockheed Hudson flying from Melbourne crashed into a small hill to the east of the airport. Four crew and six passengers, including the Chief of the General Staff and three Federal Government ministers, were killed in the accident. James Fairbairn, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation, was one of those killed and Fairbairn Airbase the eastern component of the airport was subsequently named after him. In 1962 the military side of the Airport was renamed RAAF Base Fairbairn. The North-East quadrant of the Airport still retains the Fairbairn name.

The lease to the site was sold to Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/co_bo_sn.htm Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd] ] in 1998, and the RAAF area was sub-leased back to the Department of Defence. It was decommissioned as a RAAF base in 2003, (although No. 34 Squadron RAAF remains based there), and the RAAF area was renamed Defence Establishment Fairbairn.

In the years since the sale of the lease to Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd, a series of upgrades have taken place at the Airport including major terminal upgrades. In early December 2007, plans were announced to construct a new terminal, with construction commencing in July 2008, and completion set for mid 2010. When completed, the terminal will have 6 aerobridges (an increase of 2), 32 check-in counters, (twice the current number), 2,500 car parking spaces (doubled), three times the baggage belt capacity, and the floor area of the lounge facilities will be quadrupled. [ [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/ne_hu.htm "The Hub Newsletter"] , Issue 43, January 2008.] [ [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/changes Information and updates about changes to the airport] ]

Over a dozen office buildings have also been built on Airport land at Brindabella Business Park and Fairbairn, and an outlet centre operated by Brand Depot has been established along Majura Road. [ [http://www.branddepot.com.au/ Brand Depot] ]

The Canberra Spatial Plan released by the ACT Government in March 2004 identified the airport and surrounding areas as being an important centre for future industrial and related development. [ [http://apps.actpla.act.gov.au/spatialplan/ Canberra Spatial Plan] , March 2004.]

Several new hangars and buildings have been erected in both Fairbairn and near the terminal. A 600m extension to the airport's runway and upgrades to runway systems were completed in 2006. [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/ne_hu.htm "The Hub", Issue 34, August 2006.] Canberra Airport Newsletter.]

The management of Canberra International Airport has launched an advertising campaign in support of the idea of having Canberra considered as Sydney's Second Airport. The slogan they are using is "Is the solution to Sydney's second airport still 20 years away? [ [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/docs/5540%20CUT%2028%20x%205%20AFR.pdf "Is the solution to Sydney's second airport still 20 years away?"] ] Less than 3 hours actually. [ [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/docs/5560%20CUT%2028%20x%205%20AFR.pdf "Less than 3 hours actually."] ] " Their point of view is presented at "Canberra is the Only Serious Solution to Sydney's Air Traffic Problems." [ [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/ne_sy.htm "Canberra is the Only Serious Solution to Sydney's Air Traffic Problems."] ]

Issues

Access

Access to and from the Canberra airport terminal is primarily by car, hire car or taxi. Canberra Cabs and partner taxi companies provide services to the airport taxi rank, with cabs waiting when flights come in.

There are two shuttle buses run by Deane's Buslines - the Airliner [cite web |url=http://www.airliner.com.au/ |title=Airliner website |accessdate=2007-08-20 |format= |work= ] service into Civic (route A1), and route 831 (834?) to nearby Queanbeyan on the NSW side of the NSW/ACT border. [cite web |url=http://www.deanesbuslines.com.au/ |title=Deane's Buslines website |accessdate=2008-06-18 |format= |work= ]

Canberra airport terminal is "not" serviced by the ACT public transport system (ACTION). [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=No plans for Canberra Airport public bus |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/04/25/1352579.htm |work= |publisher=ABC News |date=2005-04-25 |accessdate=2007-08-18 ] [cite web |url=http://www.action.act.gov.au/ |title=ACTion website |accessdate=2007-08-20 |format= |work= ] ACTION's website still has the airport listed as a suburb, however the bus route listed next to the airport connects to the Deane's Buslines website. [ [http://www.action.act.gov.au/routes_by_suburb.html ACTION Buses - Routes by Suburb] ] ACTION runs five services to various parts of the airport site (to/from Civic (737), Belconnen (10), Gungahlin (757), Tuggeranong (786), Weston Creek and Woden (28)), [cite web |url=http://www.action.act.gov.au/ |title=ACTION website |accessdate=2008-06-18 |format= |work= ] but these stop at Brindabella Business Park, Fairbairn and Brand Depot, not at the terminal itself. [cite web |url=http://www.action.act.gov.au/improvements_to_network.cfm |title=ACTION "Building a better bus service" |accessdate=2008-03-26 |format= |work= ] These locations are quite a distance from the main terminal building, making them impractical for pedestrians with luggage, and therefore use of these services as airport shuttles is extremely low.

Noise, noise sharing and curfews

Approach and departure corridors lie over largely rural and industrial areas, although the instrument approach path (from the south) passes near the New South Wales suburb of Jerrabomberra, the city of Queanbeyan, and the Royal Australian Navy base, HMAS Harman, which has some barracks and housing.

Proposals have been made to the NSW Planning Minister by various developers to approve housing estates that are under the southern flight paths in New South Wales. Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd has been vigorous in advertising its opposition to these plans on the basis of a general increase in noise levels over a wide corridor which is currently free of aircraft noise, [This is referred to as "Noise Sharing". See cite web |url=http://www.canberraairport.com.au/an_lup.htm |title=Aircraft Noise - Land Use Planning document |publisher=Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd|accessdate=2007-10-28 and [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/an_ns.htm Noise Sharing, Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd] for an explanation of their rationale.] and concern that this will lead to the imposition of a curfew on the hours-of-operation of the airport. [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/ne_hu.htm "Judge's Ruling says noise will be a problem at Tralee"] , "The Hub", Issue 40 (September 2007), pg4. Canberra Airport Newsletter.]

Curfew 4 Canberra [ [http://www.curfew4canberra.org.au Curfew 4 Canberra] ] has been formed in response to the changes proposed in Canberra Airport’s draft 2008 Master Plan, in particular the night time aircraft movements and the impact this will have on the quality of life for all residents of the Canberra region. Its membership draws on the residents associations from around the ACT. One of the key platforms is the introduction of a night time curfew at Canberra Airport. The core objectives of Curfew 4 Canberra include: secure an 11pm-6am curfew; oppose Canberra Airport becoming a 24 hour freight hub; oppose Canberra Airport becoming Sydney’s 2nd Airport; oppose the construction of a parallel (third) runway.

Road traffic and road traffic congestion

The road system around Canberra Airport and the road between Civic and Canberra Airport was being duplicated as at July 2008, partly funded by Canberra Airport and the ACT Government. Federal Labor has also committed to further road improvements in the area through the extension of the Monaro Highway. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Labor party media release |url=http://www.alp.org.au/media/1007/msats120.php |work= |publisher= |date=2008-10-12 |accessdate=2008-06-18 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Hub |url=http://www.canberraairport.com.au/pdf/hub%2045.pdf |work= |publisher= |date=2008-07-01 |accessdate=2008-06-18 ]

The Chief Minister of the ACT Government initially blamed the Commonwealth for the increased traffic congestion around the airport, which he claims has occurred due to the construction of office buildings on airport land [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Stanhope blames Commonwealth for airport congestion |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/03/27/1882913.htm |work= |publisher=ABC News |date=2007-03-07 |accessdate=2007-08-18 ] , however, Mr Stanhope later stated that while he accepted the development of the airport adds to the level of traffic on the roads, it is not the cause of the congestion during peak periods. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Letter from Mr Jon Stanhope to Mr Stephen Byron, 15 January 2007, contained in submission to the National Capital Authority Inquiry |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ncet/natcapauth/subs/sub070.pdf |work= |publisher= |date=2007-01-15 |accessdate=2008-06-18 ] The ACT Government established a roundtable working group to examine the roads around the Airport and identify solutions to the road congestion through the Majura Valley.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Airport Roads Roundtable|url=http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.asp?media=1372&section=54&title=Media%20Release&id=54 |work= |publisher=Jon Stanhope Media Release |date= |accessdate=2007-08-19 ] The roundtable identified that the cause of the road traffic was increased traffic from Gungahlin, the expansion of the airport and Queanbeyan's growing population.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Canberra Airport Roads Working Group - Interim Report |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0010/39943/Canberra_Airport_Roads_Working_Group_Interim_Report.doc |work= |publisher=ACT Government |date=2006-06-01 |accessdate= ] cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Media Release: $15 Million to Boost Road Access to Airport |url=http://www.treasury.act.gov.au/budget/budget_2007/files/press/61_press.pdf |work= |publisher=ACT Government |date=2006-10-01 |accessdate=2007-06-05 ] The working group recommended a staged approach to solving the traffic congestion, with Stage 1 including the duplication of Pialligo Avenue, Morshead Drive and Fairbairn Avenue.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Canberra Airport Roads Working Group - Final Report |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0010/39943/Canberra_Airport_Roads_Working_Group_Final_Report.doc |work= |publisher=ACT Government |date=2006-10-01 |accessdate=2007-08-19 ]

tatistics

Passenger statistics

References

External links

* [http://www.canberraairport.com.au/ Canberra International Airport official site]