Avolon Airport’s new terminal to be completed soon

MELBOURNE: The new A$38mil (RM112.7mil) international terminal being built at Avolon Airport in Victoria, Australia is expected to be completed in a month.

Its CEO Dustin Giddings said the airport will then carry out tests in preparation for receiving its first international flight on Dec 5.

AirAsia X will fly in from Kuala Lumpur on that day to begin its twice daily KL-Melbourne-KL flights.

The airline connects KL to a further 130 destinations.

The long-haul budget airline is moving it’s Melbourne flights from Tullamarine Melbourne Airport to Avolon Airport on the day (Dec 5).

“The terminal is taking shape. Initially, we will have a cafe, several shops and a prayer room,” Giddings told a group of journalists at the airport, located about 55km from Melbourne.

He said entry into the terminal and exiting from the terminal will be much faster than the Tullamarine Melbourne Airport.

For travellers, particularly nature lovers, the airport, which is Victoria’s second largest airport, is nearer to Great Ocean Road, Geelong and surrounding areas.

“We are cheaper, faster and nearer to the great spots in this region,” he said, adding that the Great Ocean Road was a 30-minute drive from the airport.

He said new double-storey Skybuses have been ordered to cater to the expected increase in travellers when AirAsia X begins the international flights come Dec 5.

According to its website, SkyBus operates two services from Avalon Airport providing passengers fast airport transfers to Melbourne City, Werribee, and Geelong.

It has also partnered local operator Geelong Taxi Network to offer connections to greater Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast.

The website says new SkyBus Avalon services will be added to connect with AirAsia flights.