Melbourne’s Avalon Airport will become an international gateway when AirAsia moves its operations from Tullamarine Airport later this year.
AirAsia X Malaysia will operate twice-daily flights between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur as the first international carrier at the airport. Half a million international passengers are projected to move through Avalon Airport in the first year of operations.
AirAsia X Malaysia’s CEO Benyamin Ismail said in a statement: “Melbourne and Victoria are important markets to us and this new service with 560,000 seats annually will provide a significant boost to business and tourism.”
Justin Giddings, CEO of Avalon Airport, commented: “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.”
In operation as a commercial airport since 2004, Avalon is currently only serviced by Qantas’ low-cost arm Jetstar flying to Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and the Gold Coast, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Victorian and federal governments are expected to help fund the necessary infrastructure and services at Avalon Airport, which is owned by the logistics giant Linfox, the same report added.
