http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/avalon-airport-secur…
Looks like AirAsia will be moving its KUL - MEL services to KUL - AVV. Curious to hear what other OzBargainers think of this - hopefully means cheaper flights in the long run!
AirAsia Coming to Melbourne (Avalon)
dane45 on 02/02/2018 - 11:30
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Maybe by taxi, but on the skybus it's a $42 round trip for an adult travelling alone.
Can also get a taxi from Lara station for $15
The AVV passenger movement fee will be less than MEL but don't expect AirAsia to pass it on through lower fares.
I can't really see AirAsia dropping their current prices much more than they are now. They may pass on some savings to show that they recognise the additional inconvenience for passengers having to travel to and from Avalon, but the majority of the savings will simply go to their bottom line.
I suspect they'll set prices so that there's still a price difference between theirs and a full-service airline's prices, but the difference would be such that it is just enough push a budget-minded passenger over the edge and still fly with them.
It will be interesting to see the overall inconvenience of Avalon. On one hand, there's an extra 20 minutes travel time compared to Tulla (assuming, for arguments sake, that you're coming from the city) and there's currently only one bus for each flight. But on the other, customs and immigration won't be anywhere near as congested as Tullamarine can get in peak hours.
It will be interesting to see the overall inconvenience of Avalon
I think the inconvenience would come in the form of how unpredictable the traffic is and the amount of "extra" travel time that needs to be allowed for to arrive on time.
For eg, Tullamarine takes me 20 minutes to travel in light traffic, but I'd give it an hour in total travel time just in case there's traffic along the way. Most times, I'd get to Tullamarine way with plenty of time to spare but there's been a few times where I've only just made it.
When the distance to travel is much further, there's more chances of traffic jams and therefore, we need to allow for even more additional time.
Very true, when I go to Tulla it's usually on a Friday afternoon at around 4pm. Sitting on that skybus and hoping traffic will be kind is always nerve-wracking.
At Avalon the busses are scheduled to arrive 90 minutes before each flight departs to give passengers enough time to check bags, check in, etc, even if the bus encounters traffic. For international flights, I guess it would have to be around 2 hours at least.
Friday afternoon at around 4pm. Sitting on that skybus and hoping traffic will be kind is always nerve-wracking.
That's so me!
Friday afternoons - sometimes the skybus takes that alternative route and in my head, I'm going "F.., F.., F..!!" haha!@bobbified: I usually sit at my desk for an hour before I leave monitoring traffic on Google maps and weighing up if I should go via Broadmeadows. No matter which I choose to do, I'm always convinced that I've made the wrong choice
Only possible advantage to this is that Avalon will probably get connected by train faster than Tullamarine will.
Long term parking at AAV is a third of the price of Tullamarine and their is a bus that runs from Spencer’s street.
This is a win i reckon
prices will go up?
Even thought I live in the East,I wouldn't mind it as surely it going through customs will be much faster.
One downside is you won't be about to claim TRS.
Why won't you be able to claim TRS? I imagine that when the international terminal is built, they'll build counters for the TRS
Let's hope they will.
I would be surprised if they can't process trs once international operation starts.
Nice!
They are making a mistake. There is already an airport in the North catering West and North region.
It is the South East and East that needs an airport. What happened to Koo Wee Rup/Tooradin international airport they proposed last year?
That's going to be a very long time in the future. Maybe in 50 years time.
They're proposing to reserve the land and rail routes now so that it can at some point in the future be economically viable. Right now it is not.
Probably be built before Sydney's second airport.
When are flights moving to Avalon?
A sign of things to come for Badgerys Creek (Sydney 2nd airport) ?
AirAsia has a lot of clout, and they are not afraid to use it. For example their delay in moving to KLIA2 in early 2014.
This is an interesting move. I dare say Airasia would only be moving their operations to Avalon enticed by generous government funding.
I wonder how this will economically turn out - as even Jetstar was threatening to pull out of Avalon last year - without continued subsidies by the government. eg Tiger used to fly out of Avalon and ditched it. I think low cost competitors like Scoot and Jetstar will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of picking up a good portion of Airasias ex Melbourne clientele.
I think before any new flights, they should have the train line make a stop at the Avalon airport - or have an airport shuttle train to meet with the rail line at Lara etc. As I don't see many keen people driving out to Avalon - especially with the isolation like lack of infrastructure.
Maybe AirAsia would have a package type booking that includes bus connection/transfers. They do in some other places.
True. But Melbourne to Avalon is around 75 minutes on a clear drive- and Princess highway during peak hour is often a car park - So even with transport packages, the tradeoff in time / transit would make it questionable in my view.
I think you might be overestimating a little there, the journey from the city to Avalon on the Skybus is timetabelled as 50-60 minutes and 5-10 minutes could probably be shaved off that if it didn't stop at Werribee RSL.
In my experience, what slows the journey down massively compared to Tullamarine is the fact that each bus arrives about 90 minutes before the flight departs. I understand why it's done, but it's frustrating being forced to be at the airport that early when you only have carry-on luggage.
I don't mind the short flight to KL on Air Asia X, but under no circumstances am I going out to the back of beyond to fly from Avalon.
Tulla has its faults (stacks of them!) but it is where I fly from.
Guess I have to find a new airline now. But it won't be Jetstar - ever. Once was enough putting up with that crap.
I wonder when will Avalon Airport Rail Link take off?
http://economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/transport/rail-and-roa…
Adds $100 to get to and from avv