COVID-19 RARE JETS OPERATE UK CHARTERS

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COVID-19
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12 PAGES OF NEWS AND ANALYSIS

TERMINAL
DECLINE
Major Hubs Brave
Downturn
May/June 2020 Issue 89 UK £5.49

GROUNDED
DOWN UNDER
Aussie Airports in Lockdown

USHUAIA UNCOVERED VIBRANT VIENNA HEATHROW HEADACHES

An Argentinian Adventure Austria’s Evolving Hub Fresh Doubts Over Third Runway
 Contents

5 COVID-19: News Round-up

The latest developments in response to the
coronavirus pandemic from around the UK and
across the globe.

10 General News
Airport expansion at Canberra, Luxembourg
goes digital, Helsinki helps relieve passenger
stress and Tampa prepares to unveil a
massive flamingo!

22 Between Ayers Rock and

a Hard Place
Chris Frame examines how the pandemic
is hitting some of Australia’s most important
international gateways.

28 Canucks on Camera
Catalinas and Cansos abound as Ron Mak
offers a selection of Canadian classics from a
1980s trip to the Great White North.

32 At World’s End
Ushuaia is the world’s southernmost town
and closer to Antarctica than Buenos Aires.
Renato Fonseca and Rafael Reca discover how
the region relies on aviation and why it has
become an unusual tourist destination.

45 Heathrow Headaches 
Will the development of a controversial third
runway happen? Mark Broadbent considers
the latest setback in the decades-long
expansion saga. 

48 Vibrant Vienna
Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Vienna was
undergoing ambitious upgrades in response to
growing traffic from low-cost newcomers and
legacy carriers, as Sebastian Schmitz reports.

56 Modern Snapshot: Jakarta

Peter Apsey offers a fascinating photographic
insight into Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta, the
perfect place to spot unusual liveries from
across the region.

60 Argentina’s Alternative
Airport
Sebastian Schmitz travels to the Argentinian
city of Córdoba to learn more about an airport 32
often overshadowed by the country’s capital.

68 UK Visitors
We highlight a selection of rare aircraft recently 45
visiting airports across the UK, including some
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

72 A Gateway to the Future

In recent years, Adelaide has become one
of Australia’s major international air hubs.
Chris Frame travelled to the southern city to
learn more.

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 Welcome

Welcome
The Team
Gordon Smith
Group Editor,
Commercial Aviation

Martin Needham
Assistant Editor

Thomas Lee

H
Assistant Editor
ello and welcome to your May/June issue of
Carol Randall Airports of the World. Since our last edition was
Associate Editor, published in late February, airports as we know them
Commercial Aviation have changed beyond all recognition.
Mega-hubs globally have been brought to a standstill and
Thomas Haynes many others have suspended commercial operations
Editorial Assistant altogether, as an invisible enemy tightens its grip. With no end
in sight, and an expectation that the coronavirus crisis will get
Steve Donovan worse before it gets better, this is an anxious time for many
Head of Design airport operators, airlines and passengers. Our thoughts are
with friends, colleagues and all those throughout the aviation
Andy O'Neil sector (and beyond) who have been so severely impacted by
Lee Howson the consequences from the ongoing situation.
Designers In these troubled times, I am pleased to report that the
production of Key Publishing titles, including Airports of
Andrew Mason the World, is continuing largely as normal. While magazine
Advertising Manager dispatch is currently unaffected, postal services within some
countries may be delayed. For the latest information, please
Sue Blunt visit www.keypublishing.com/FAQs. For readers of our print
Production Editor edition, we appreciate that picking up a copy at your local
retailer may be harder than usual at the moment. If you are
David Taylor having difficulty, why not consider having Airports of the
Associate World delivered directly to your home with a subscription?
Production Editor Full details for UK readers can be found on pages 20-21, with
overseas customers able to find all the required information
on page 41. For the tech-savvy, these pages also provide
further info about how to read the magazine using
your digital device.
Unsurprisingly, we kick off this month's edition with a news
round-up highlighting some of the biggest stories related to
COVID-19. We also have a special report from Australia as
the country’s gateways grapple with the rapidly developing
crisis. Elsewhere in this issue, we’ve plenty of upbeat features,
including a fascinating insight into two of Argentina’s most
strategically significant airports – Córdoba in the country’s
centre and Ushuaia in the far south.
We are incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic team here at
Key and a loyal community of readers from around the globe.
We hope that our magazine, digital services and social media
can be a source of support and entertainment for you during
these difficult days. Don’t forget, you can always keep in touch
with us at aow@keypublishing.com.
Gordon Smith
Group Editor

Front Cover
Brisbane Airport/
Gary Buchanan and
Gatwick Airport

Welcome Page
London City Airport/
Andrew Holt

4 airports of the world // May-June 2020


London City Suspends Operations
FOLLOWING THE government’s
instructions to stay at home in
response the COVID-19 outbreak,
London City Airport has opted
to temporarily suspend all
commercial and private flights. The
decision, which was implemented
on March 25, is expected to last
until the end of April.
An airport statement said: “At
this point in this fast-moving and
unprecedented situation, we think
this is the responsible thing to do
for the safety and wellbeing of our
staff, passengers and everyone
associated with the airport.”
The facility said that all of its
workforce would continue to be
employed during the period and
would return to work as soon as
possible once the emergency
has been resolved.
The statement continued: “We
are proud to be one of the largest
private employers in the area and
the first airport to be both London
Living Wage accredited and to
be recognised by the Mayor of
London’s Good Work Standard.
This remains the case and we
look forward to continuing this
important role in the future.”
As part of the UK government’s
Transatlantic Trauma for EU Hubs
THE US Government ban on air
travel between Europe and the
US could cost a total of $2bn in
lost revenue over the initial 30-day
suspension period, according
to travel and data analytics
firm Cirium.
The data suggests a total of
24,500 transatlantic flights were
scheduled to operate between the
two continents from March 14 to
attempts to cope with COVID-19,
a temporary hospital is being set
up in the nearby ExCeL London
exhibition centre. A Royal Air
Force Lockheed Martin Hercules
C4 performed a training flight
in the area on March 24, and
it seems likely that this was in
preparation for supporting local
April 12, 2020. This equates to an
estimated lost passenger capacity
of 5.5m available seats.
The analysis also indicates that
removing the seats from the
market will result in a loss of $2bn
in passenger revenue, calculated
using a revenue per available seat
mile (RASM) of $0.09.
Alistair Rivers, director of market
development – airlines and
medical teams. On the subject
of helping the authorities, an
airport spokesperson confirmed:
“We have offered the use of
London’s most central airport to
the government in case it can be
used to support the emergency
services, military or other
government agencies.”
airports at Cirium, said: “While
$2bn may seem like a small figure,
in comparison to what the major
US carriers generate alone for
Atlantic flights, this represents a
significant loss considering the
ban only applies to Schengen
countries and the UK over a
30-day period.
“As airlines around the world react
to government restrictions placed
COVID-19
News
Last year, the East London
facility – which is usually served
by airlines including British
Airways, LOT Polish Airlines and
Lufthansa – handled more than
80,000 aircraft movements, while
passenger numbers topped
five million.
(Photo London City Airport)
on travel, their clear objectives for
now are to help contain the spread
of the virus – protecting people –
and at the same time try to survive
this unprecedented crisis.”
London/Heathrow is the European
airport most heavily affected by
the drastic suspension of flights.
The hub is expected to lose a total
of 820,000 scheduled transatlantic
seats over the period. Following
closely behind are major European
gateways including Paris/Charles
de Gaulle, Frankfurt/Main,
Amsterdam/Schiphol and Dublin,
which are set to each lose a total
of 370,000, 340,000, 290,000 and
160,000 seats respectively.
As for the carriers themselves,
Delta Air Lines is expected to be
most affected by the ban and is
set to lose more than 830,000
potential seats. United Airlines
is the second most impacted,
potentially losing more than
770,000 scheduled seats, followed
by UK flag carrier British Airways,
which is projected to suffer the
loss of more than 750,000.
(Photo Dublin Airport)
www.key.aero 5
 COVID-19
News
US Airports to Receive $10bn in Relief
AS THE coronavirus pandemic
worsens in the United States,
a $2 trillion aid bill – which
included $10bn in assistance to
airports struggling to deal with
the impacts of COVID-19 – has
been passed by the US Senate.
The aid package, which was
rushed through both the House
Gatwick Closes North Terminal
IN A bid to protect staff,
passengers and its business from
the impact of COVID-19, London/
Gatwick has consolidated its
operations into its South Terminal.
The runway will now also only
be in use between 1400hrs and
2200hrs for scheduled operations.
The measures – which were
implemented on April 1 – are set
Cornwall Gateway Closed
NEWQUAY/CORNWALL AIRPORT
has temporarily closed its
terminal building and suspended
all scheduled flights due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Located in
southwest England, the facility
will remain open to support vital
6 airports of the world // May-June 2020
of Representatives and Senate, is
believed to be the largest in US
history. Todd Hauptli, president
and CEO of the American
Association of Airport Executives
(AAAE), said the funding would
help airports do several things,
including keeping people at
work, avoiding defaults on
to be in place for one month, with
the situation being kept under
regular review.
In a statement, the airport
described the move as “difficult”,
but continued: “As a responsible
business, the airport has made this
decision to protect the health and
safety of passengers and staff, and
to shield the business following a
services such as the Cornwall Air
Ambulance, HM Coastguard along
with military operations.
The decision follows a steady
stream of flight cancellations from
Irish carriers including Aer Lingus
and Ryanair, both of which scaled
bonds, allowing critical projects
to continue and assisting with
recovery efforts: “Like so many
industries across the globe,
airports and our airline partners
face unprecedented challenges
ahead, but the infusion of [the]
much-needed funding will help
airport operators weather the
dramatic fall in airline traffic.
“The airport’s operations will
be consolidated into the South
Terminal and the runway will
remain open for emergency
landings and diversions only
outside these hours. A decision
on reopening the North Terminal
[will be taken] when airline traffic
increases and government public
back their operations at the site
during March.
On its website, the airport lists
expected start dates for services
from its major operators. At the
time of going to press, many
airlines are not due to restart
storm in the near term as we all
focus on rebuilding for the future.”
Major US airports such as New
York/JFK and Chicago/O’Hare
followed a similar downward trend
to their European counterparts,
with traffic figures falling sharply
during March as the virus spread
throughout the country.
health advice – including on social
distancing – is relaxed.”
Gatwick said that the decision
to scale back its operations had
been discussed with the airport’s
airline partners. Any passengers
booked on flights due to depart or
arrive at Gatwick during the period
are advised to contact their airline.
(Photo Gatwick Airport Limited)
services at the Cornish facility until
either the end of May or later.
Last year, the airport – which
is shared with RAF St Mawgan
– handled more than 460,000
passengers, equating to just over
46,000 aircraft movements.
 Carlisle/Lake District Curtailed
NEARLY NINE months after
relaunching commercial flights,
Carlisle/Lake District Airport has
suspended all its scheduled
services to London/Southend,
Belfast/City and Dublin until further
notice. The cancellations come as
a direct result of the developing
coronavirus pandemic and its
impact on air travel. The services
Manchester Moves to Single Terminal
FOLLOWING MASS flight
cancellations due to the COVID-19
crisis, operations at Manchester
Airport have been moved to
a single terminal. The change
came a week after the hub first
announced its intentions to close
Terminal 2 and 3 and run all
operations through Terminal 1.
Flights that were due to depart
were operated by Loganair,
which said its customers will be
informed by email and fares will be
refunded automatically.
Simon Williamson, managing
director of the facility, said: “The
unprecedented situation that we
are all facing is having a major
impact, with the government
advising against all unnecessary
from T2 and T3, will now do
so from T1. This means all
passengers should check in and
pass through security in T1 until
further notice.
A Manchester Airport
spokesperson said: “Anyone
due to return to Manchester
Airport will arrive into Terminal 1,
regardless of the terminal they
travel. This decision reflects that
important advice. Our priority must
continue to be the health, safety
and wellbeing of our employees,
guests and the local community.
“We also want to take this
opportunity to thank all our
employees for their hard work
during recent weeks, from
implementing action plans to
originally departed from. Those
due to collect passengers from
the airport should also be aware
of this change.
“In some instances, where people
find themselves returning to a
different terminal from which they
departed, and have a vehicle in
one of Manchester Airport’s car
parks, we will make the necessary
working to ensure the safety of all
passengers and colleagues. The
world as a whole is experiencing
exceptional challenges right now
and we appreciate [everyone’s]
support and understanding.”
The airport, which is owned by
Stobart Group, was reopened for
commercial services in July 2019.
(Photo Carlisle Lake District Airport)
arrangements for these customers
to collect their vehicles and will be
in touch with them in due course to
explain how this will work.”
The facility has deployed
more staff and introduced extra
wayfinding to help guide people
through the complex during the
consolidation period. (Photo
Manchester Airports Group)
www.key.aero 7
 COVID-19
News
Heathrow steps up Cargo Capabilities
LONDON/HEATHROW is stepping
up its cargo capabilities as airport
bosses call on more airlines
and freight companies to use
the hub. The gateway, which
normally operates at close to
maximum capacity, is currently
experiencing a sharp downturn in
scheduled passenger traffic due
to COVID-19.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-
Kaye said air freight will help
keep vital supply lines open and
help to get [both] time-critical and
temperature-sensitive goods,
such as medical supplies and
food, across the UK: “This is
French Flights Consolidated
AS PART of its coronavirus
epidemic measures, airport
operator Groupe ADP relocated
all flights from Paris/Orly to
Charles de Gaulle from March 31,
in the latest step in APD’s wider
consolidation efforts.
Augustin de Romanet, chairman
and CEO of Aéroports de Paris,
Groupe ADP, said: “Facing an
8 airports of the world // May-June 2020
an unprecedented time for the
international community, with
[coronavirus] requiring us all to
work together, adapt and adopt
extraordinary measures to quell
the spread of this virus. For the
first time in a decade, our airport
has additional capacity in its
schedule – capacity which we’ve
begun to see used to help push
vital supplies across the globe to
help support frontline teams in the
battle against this pandemic.”
Logistics companies have
already begun playing a key role
by importing COVID-19 testing
kits via Heathrow, in preparation
exceptional and global situation,
Groupe ADP is mobilised to
mitigate the operational and
economic consequences of this
outbreak of its platforms in Paris
and abroad.
An unprecedented operational
and financial plan [has been]
launched, including support
measures for our customers.”
for increased demand as the
outbreak develops. The airport
said that medical products are
among its top imports, with
Heathrow handling 41% of the
UK’s pharmaceutical imports (by
value). More than 12,000 tonnes
of medical supplies such as
medicines, vaccines, sanitisers,
syringes and respirators travelled
through the complex in 2019.
During normal operations,
Heathrow is the UK’s largest
port by value, with 34% of the
country’s cargo travelling through
the facility. The majority of this
freight (95%) is carried in the
Among these plans, Charles
de Gaulle’s Terminals 2G and 3
were closed until further notice
on March 22 and Orly’s Terminals
1, 2 and 4 closed on the evening
of March 26. All shops deemed to
be non-essential were closed at
both airports on March 15.
A Groupe APD press release
said: “To make it easier for all
belly hold of passenger aircraft.
While passenger travel remains
restricted for many, airports are
likely to continue to play a key role
in keeping the UK’s supply chain
alive, for both essential workers
and goods. Heathrow bosses have
also detailed the steps they are
taking to assist the airline industry
during this turbulent period. These
measures include supporting slot
alleviation, offering free parking
to aircraft grounded as a result of
COVID-19 and bringing forward
growth incentive payments to
help improve cashflow for carriers.
(Photo Heathrow Airports Limited)
passengers to travel and fulfil all
boarding procedures, operations
have been reorganised and
some airlines have moved their
operations to new terminals.”
Restrictions at Orly gradually
intensified throughout March
after the closure of a runway and
limitations on navigation and
landing aids were implemented.
 Brandenburg 'On Schedule'
DESPITE THE ongoing impacts
from coronavirus, the operator of
Berlin/Brandenburg insists that
the new hub will open in October
as planned, even if the pandemic
disrupts its trials. Flughafen
Berlin Brandenburg (FBB) said
the deadline would be “strictly
adhered to”.
The company’s supervisory
board met on March 19 to set out
the course of development and
discuss the group’s financial plans.
A statement from the organisation
said that the 2020 business plan,
showing the firm's long-term
financing arrangements is “far
beyond the opening of BER”,
was agreed upon. The figures
show that €792m of funding is
budgeted for 2021 to 2024, with
half of that figure raised via the
financial market and the rest being
provided by the shareholders.
With regard to the current
situation at Berlin’s existing
airports – Tegel and Schönefeld
– the executive board reported the commissioning on October been plagued with delays and
a massive decline in passenger 31, 2020.” cost overruns since construction
numbers, currently down 75% as Originally planned to open in began in 2006. (Photo Flughafen
of March 30. As a result, the airport 2011, Berlin/Brandenburg has Berlin Brandenburg)
operator said it will be temporarily
dependant on financial aid. The
matter was discussed by the
board and the shareholders were
made aware of the situation.
Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, chief
executive officer of Flughafen
Berlin Brandenburg, commented:
“The [COVID-19] crisis is a blow
to the FBB. Our income situation
has deteriorated sharply in the last
three weeks. For this reason, we
[must] make massive cost savings
and reduce operating expenses.
This means that every new
appointment, every investment,
every expense is [to remain] under
close scrutiny.
“A good airport infrastructure
will be more important than ever
before, once the coronavirus crisis
has been overcome. We will work
with all our strength on this and

Southend Sets Out Strategy

LONDON SOUTHEND Airport
has laid out its plans to respond
to the COVID-19 crisis. Like
many facilities up and down
the country, the complex
has experienced a surge of
cancellations from airlines over
recent weeks.
The Essex facility has amended
its opening times and will now
be open between 1630hrs and
2130hrs on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays. While the gateway
will be providing a significantly
reduced passenger service, its
logistics operation is expected to
continue to function as normal.
As a result of maintaining its
logistics, the airport says it has
been able to safeguard jobs
and ensure that goods continue
to move in and out of the
country to offer support during
the outbreak.
Glyn Jones, CEO of the site, said:
“I want to take this opportunity to
express my immense gratitude
to the incredible team here at
London Southend Airport, who
have responded fantastically to
the unprecedented challenges
faced by the aviation industry
and by the world as a whole.
I am pleased that the airport
will contribute to the local
community and its economy by
securing jobs.”
Ryanair and easyJet have
both suspended their services
from the airport until May, while
Loganair, Wizz Air and Fly One
have all significantly reduced
their schedules.
(Photo Stobart Group)

www.key.aero 9
 News
Delhi Delight at Manchester
NORTHERN ENGLAND’S links with
Delhi have been strengthened
after Manchester secured a direct
flight to the Indian capital.
Virgin Atlantic is set to operate
a thrice-weekly service from
October 26.
It is hoped that the route – which
is the latest addition to Virgin
Atlantic's long-haul network from
the northwest hub – will benefit
the 500,000 people of Indian
origin living across the north of
Norwegian’s Big Apple Record
NORWEGIAN MAINTAINED its
leadership position as the largest
foreign carrier in New York City
for 2019. According to data from
the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) year-
end traffic statistics, the Nordic
low-cost carrier handled more
than two million customers in
the city.
Prior to COVID-19, the Oslo-
based firm grew its presence at
New York/JFK, where it offered
eight nonstop flights to Europe,
including Amsterdam/Schiphol
10 airports of the world // May-June 2020
the UK. The airline will roster an
Airbus A330-200 aircraft with
capacity for 266 passengers in
a three-class configuration, with
19 in upper class, 35 in premium
economy and 212 in economy.
Currently, 180,000 people travel
from Manchester’s catchment area
to the Indian capital every year.
Speaking before the COVID-
19 crisis, Andrew Cowan, CEO
of Manchester Airport, said:
“Securing a direct service to
(x5 weekly), Athens (x4 weekly),
Barcelona/El Prat (x7 weekly),
London/Gatwick (x17 weekly),
Madrid/Barajas (x4 weekly), Oslo/
Gardermoen (x4 weekly), Paris/
Charles de Gaulle (x7 weekly) and
Rome/Fiumicino (x6 weekly).
According to PANYNJ, Norwegian
was the third-ranked global
contributor to the growth of
air travel in the city, with a net
increase of 349,224 passengers,
equating to a 28% rise. Speaking
before operations were impacted
by the coronavirus, Matthew
one of India’s major cities is
the product of a lot of hard
work over a long period of time
to forge closer ties between
Manchester and this globally
significant economy.”
Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial
officer for Virgin Atlantic, added:
“2020 marks our 20th anniversary
of flying to India and as the
destination continues to grow
in popularity for both business
and leisure travel, we’re thrilled
Wood, senior vice president
of commercial long haul and
new markets at Norwegian,
said: “During a challenging and
complex year, becoming the
largest foreign airline in New
York City is remarkable and
a testament that our low-cost
business model continues to
appeal to modern travellers.
“With our focus on JFK, where
we will soon be unveiling
biometric boarding for greater
efficiency and convenience,
our presence will be further
to fly to Delhi for very first time
from Manchester, our home in
the North.”
Virgin Atlantic has experienced
strong growth at the site in
recent years. In addition to the
Delhi flights, the carrier launched
services to Los Angeles last year
and is planning to expand capacity
into Barbados, as well as open a
Clubhouse lounge this summer,
subject to the coronavirus. (Photo
Manchester Airports Group)
enhanced and improved."
In 11 consecutive months in
2019, it increased its passenger
numbers despite route closures
at New York/Stewart due to the
grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX
and schedule transfers from New
York/Newark to JFK. The firm
surpassed Air Canada in February
and maintained its ranking as
the eighth largest airline after US
carriers United Airlines, Delta Air
Lines, JetBlue Airways, American
Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit
Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
 Qatar Debuts New Lounge Design
A NEW premium lounge for
Qatar Airways has opened in
Terminal 1 at Singapore/Changi.
The space is the first of its kind
and the airline hopes it will act
as a benchmark for the future,
narrowing the gap between
business and first-class lounges.
Spanning 7,500sq ft (700m²), the
facility can accommodate more
than 85 passengers and features
a contemporary Arabic design.
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways
group chief executive, said:
“We want to ensure that the
on-ground experience offered
to our passengers matches our
iconic five-star airline service. As
the first Qatar Airways lounge
[to] follow this design concept,
it will serve as a new standard
for all our premium lounges
going forward.”
The grand entrance features the
flag carrier’s signature ‘Marhaba’
engraved sandstone wall with a
display of fresh white orchids. A
botanical patterned wall inspired
by Singapore’s horticulture and
greenery adds a local touch. The
lounge is also equipped with a full
kitchen for freshly prepared food
on demand, or a buffet spread
offering an international menu.
Qatar Airways has a growing
portfolio of premium lounges in
key markets. These are currently
located at London/Heathrow,
Paris/Charles de Gaulle, Beirut/
Rafic Hariri and Bangkok/
Suvarnabhumi Airport.
(Photo Qatar Airways)

Disability training at Stansted

A MAJOR milestone in London/ make sure that they get the best know that busy environments like Stansted also uses the Sunflower
Stansted’s bid to help staff better support possible at every point airports can often cause confusion Scheme, which encourages
support passengers and their during their journey.” and stress for people living with passengers to wear a special
families with hidden disabilities Mark Neville, Alzheimer’s Society dementia. By having a better lanyard to discreetly indicate
has been reached, with more Dementia Friendly Communities understanding of the condition to staff that they have a hidden
than 1,000 staff having completed co-ordinator, added: “This and making adjustments, big and disability and might need
awareness training for dementia. milestone really shows a united small, colleagues can make this additional support.
The facility is working with the approach at Stansted Airport. We experience much smoother.” (Photo Stansted Airport)
Alzheimer’s Society to train all
its staff, from security officers
and office workers to firefighters
and engineers, to become a
dementia-friendly environment.
It is now rolling out the scheme
even further and encouraging the
200 on-site businesses to make
all 12,000 people who work at the
airport dementia-aware.
The training looks at the
whole airport environment and
explains how it can present
specific challenges to people
with the condition. It’s one of
several schemes Stansted has
in place to make it accessible for
people with hidden disabilities,
including autism.
Lucy Martin, accessibility
manager at the Essex gateway,
said: “An airport can be particularly
stressful for a passenger living
with dementia, so we’ve teamed
up with the Alzheimer’s Society to

www.key.aero 11
 News

Airside Boost for Incheon

ONE OF the world’s busiest
airports is due to upgrade its
airfield lighting control and
monitoring systems. The project
– which is being undertaken
by aerospace technology
specialist Honeywell – will help
enhance passenger service and
streamline airport operations at
Incheon in South Korea. Since
opening in 2001, it has grown to
accommodate for than 71 million
passengers each year and is a
hub for more than 10 airlines.
The recent construction of a
fourth runway at Incheon and the
expansion of its northern remote
apron have increased flight
capacity from 90 to 107 flights
per hour. The opening of Terminal
2 has further facilitated growth
accommodating 18 million more
passengers per year. With more
than 380,000 flights managed
annually, Incheon is one of the
busiest gateways to East Asia.
The increase in air traffic has
created demand for a new
guidance system to allow pilots
to easily navigate the facility’s
complex runways, taxiways and
other airfield surfaces. Honeywell
is installing its airfield ground
lighting control and monitoring
system and advanced surface
movement guidance and control
technologies to promote safer
navigation under most traffic and
visibility conditions.
Chang-Jun Lee, director of the
aeronautical ground light team
at the South Korean complex,
commented: “Under high-traffic
conditions, reliable guidance
systems such as those installed
by Honeywell are critical to the
pilots manoeuvring around our
congested airfield and taxiways.
Put simply, this technology helps
keep operations running smoothly
and make sure people are safe.”
(Photo Honeywell)

Heathrow Cracks Down on Night Flying

THE UK’S busiest airport, London/ the hub during the night.” impact. Introduced in 2013, the list aircraft comprises 7% of flights
Heathrow, is due to increase Elsewhere, Scandinavian Airlines recognised SAS for its efforts to from Heathrow and is used by
its charges on some night (SAS) topped Heathrow’s Fly Quiet improve operational performance eight operators including British
operations in a bid to reduce the and Green league table, which and its investment in greener Airways, SAS, Lufthansa, Air Malta,
number of flights disrupting local ranks airlines that use the facility and quieter Airbus A320neo Iberia and TAP Air Portugal.
communities closest to the hub. on their noise and environmental Family jets. The next-generation (Photo Heathrow Airports Limited)
The facility is set to apply tougher
charges on services that arrive
and depart within the night quota
period from 2330hrs to 0600hrs.
Airlines that operate unscheduled
flights within the period will face a
bill five times greater than daytime
charges. These actions are in
response to community feedback
on ways to improve noise impact
and complement Heathrow’s wider
noise action plan.
Rob Gray, Heathrow community
and stakeholder engagement
director, said: “It is really important
that we work with our local
communities and [carriers] to
strictly manage aircraft noise at
Heathrow. We continue to take
vital steps to improve matters,
including our new noise charges
on all flights that arrive or depart

12 airports of the world // May-June 2020

013_AOW_MAYJUN20_ad.indd 1 08/04/2020 10:39:25
 News
Helsinki Giving a Helping Hand
HELSINKI AIRPORT has partnered
with Finnish-based Metsä/Skogen
to create a relaxing environment
that helps reduce passenger
stress before boarding. Set to
open in May, subject to COVID-
19, it will include a shop, seating
areas and a mushroom bar
consisting of a menu of wild foods.
Carita Peltonen, CEO of Metsä/
Skogen, said: “In co-operation
with design, emission
compensation and healthcare
professionals, we are building
A LONG-STANDING air service
Wick Loses Loganair Link
linking Wick/John O’Groats and
Edinburgh closed at the end of
March. Loganair revealed that
overall passenger numbers on
the route dropped from 11,357
in 2016 to 7,632 last year – a fall
of 33%. The added impact of the
COVID-19 outbreak saw bookings
on the route fall by a further 17%
14 airports of the world // May-June 2020
a concept where the well-being
of people and nature is at the
heart of everything. The idea of
offering nature sounds, scents
and flavours is to create the
most authentic Finnish forest
experience possible, which helps
people calm down in the middle
of a hectic day and offers a unique
glimpse of Finnish nature.”
Travellers will have the
opportunity to experience a
virtual hike through the forests of
Lapland. Furthermore, by teaming
compared with the same time
last year.
Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair
chief executive, commented:
“Loganair has been serving [the
airport] since 1976, but there
has been a steady decline in
passenger numbers mirroring the
simultaneous growth of nonstop
flights from Inverness, and the
up with the Helsinki Foundation,
passengers can choose to pay for
preserving parts of the real forest.
Nora Immonen, Finavia’s
director for commercial services
business unit for Helsinki Airport,
said: “Metsä/Skogen represents
exactly the kind of new Finnish
sustainable expertise that we
want to offer our passengers. The
unique lifestyle concept broadens
the range of services available
at Helsinki Airport and supports
Finavia’s aim to renew itself and
further drop in demand as a result
of Coronavirus has dealt the
final blow.”
The termination is due to
result in the closure of the
carrier’s ground handling and
customer service operation at
Wick, where two staff members
were employed. The workers
have been offered redundancy
create daring solutions to improve
the airport’s customer experience
and Finland’s brand.”
Metsä/Skogen, which translates
as ‘forest’ in Finnish and
Swedish, is part of the wider
Helsinki Airport Development
Programme. Finavia aims to
increase annual passenger
numbers to 30m by the late
2020s and is investing €1bn in
expanding the terminal space by
45% or 1.1m sq ft (103,000m2).
(Photo Finavia)
or redeployment within the
Loganair network.
Hinkles added: “I’d like to thank
our loyal customers and pay
tribute to our two long-serving
staff members at Wick for their
dedication over many years, and
just wish that it were possible
to reward their hard work with a
better outcome than this.”
 Prague Progresses Upgrades
PRAGUE/VÁCLAV HAVEL has
begun modernising its Terminal
1 (T1) baggage sorting area. Part
of a 15-year Kč27bn (£900m)
investment, it will ease congestion
at the close-to-capacity facility.
Work began in March and is due
to last until August 31, subject to
COVID-19. During the revamp,
22 airlines have transferred their
check-in services to Terminal 2.
Heathrow Loses Kiwi Crew Base
ON MARCH 20, London/Heathrow
bid farewell to its Air New Zealand
crew base, a decision that impacts
130 staff. With original plans slated
to remain until October 24 – when
the route from the British capital
ends – the ongoing pandemic
became an overriding factor in
bringing forward the decision. With
Boeing Joins UK Aviation Research Project
US AEROSPACE manufacturer,
Boeing has joined a project that
is set to lead the UK’s research
into digital aviation technology.
The £65m Digital Aviation
Research Technology Centre
(DARTeC) is due to become
operational this summer at
Cranfield University.
The site is set to test ideas
Following bag drop-off, travellers
will return to T1 for security and
boarding as normal.
Václav Rehor, chairman of the
airport’s board of directors,
said: “The number of handled
passengers is growing every
year and the airport has already
reached and exceeded its
capacity limits. Therefore, we have
been gradually implementing
current restrictions, the firm has
temporarily suspended services
from Heathrow until June 30.
Leeanne Langridge, the airline’s
cabin crew general manager,
said: “The increasing travel
restrictions due to COVID-19 are
having a significant impact on
bookings and flight cancellations.
that include an experimental
airport terminal and a ‘hangar
of the future’ which will be fully
instrumented for advanced digital
maintenance repair operations.
The centre also aims to address
challenges that face the aviation
industry including the integration
of drones in civilian airspace,
increasing the efficiency of
projects that are part of the airport
development and will contribute
to its modernisation and partial
increases in its handling and
operational capacities. The
reconstruction of the baggage
sorting area, which has continued
for the second year and will
temporarily require operational
restrictions, is one of the most
important projects in this respect.”
While this is a tough decision, it’s
important we [act] now to
responsibly manage Air New
Zealand through this difficult
period to maintain a national
airline that is fit for the future.”
London had been a pillar in the
airline’s network since its launch
back in 1982. However, bosses at
airports, creating safe and
secure shared airspace through
communication infrastructures
and increasing the reliability and
availability of self-sensing and
self-healing technologies.
Boeing and Cranfield have been
working together for the past 25
years on a range of research and
technology projects, including
In the move, ground handling
companies and airline customer
services have also been relocated
to the adjacent terminal. The
temporary changes have been
advertised through a variety of
channels including social media
and the Czech facility’s website.
Terminal 1 is used for international
and non-Schengen destinations.
(Photo Prague Airport)
the carrier cited fierce competition,
especially in the North Atlantic
segment, for pulling the link. The
company stated only 7% of all
passengers choose to route via
Los Angeles. While the firm won’t
fly to the UK directly, it will use
partnerships to feed traffic across
Europe and North America.
the development of new aircraft
and studies into passenger
behaviour, cabin refurbishment
and management processes.
The airframer joins other
organisations including IATA,
Saab and Inmarsat that have
teamed up with the university on
the project.
(Photo Cranfield University)
www.key.aero 15
 News
Dublin Gets Greenliner Dreamliner
TO MARK St Patrick’s Day, the
Irish capital welcomed Etihad
Airways green-liveried Boeing
787-10, A6-BMH (c/n 60765), from
Abu Dhabi.
Dubbed the ‘Greenliner’, the
specially painted jet is the flagship
of the airline’s environmental
programme which is aiming to help
CINCINNATI/NORTHERN
Sights Set for Seattle
Kentucky is scheduled to receive
Alaska Airlines services for the
first time on August 18. Subject to
COVID-19, it will link Seattle to the
Midwest city daily using Boeing
737NGs. The connection arrives at
16 airports of the world // May-June 2020
make aviation more sustainable.
As a parting gesture, the return
flight was operated mainly by
crew from the island of Ireland.
These included staff originally from
Tipperary, Monaghan, Leixlip, Boyle
and Belfast.
In addition to celebrating
Ireland’s national day, the flights
1650 local time before departing
the facility an hour later. Candace
McGraw, the airport’s chief
executive, said: “[We] welcome
Alaska Airlines and its strong West
Coast presence to Cincinnati.
The new nonstop service offers
were also used to test a series of
sustainable operating measures. In
collaboration with various airspace
navigation providers, the inbound
flight started with a direct taxi-out,
enabling the aircraft to push back
and transit straight to the runway.
After departure, the jet performed
a continuous climb to cruise level
excellent schedule times and will
enhance travel options for both
business and leisure travellers
[within] the tri-state region going
to the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii
and Alaska.” The carrier’s latest
route becomes the 93rd from the
– an uninterrupted path which
is more sustainable than the
traditional stepped ascent. These
measures were repeated for the
arrival into Dublin. For the return
sector, the crew of the twinjet
replicated the procedures carried
out for the previous flight.
(Photo Etihad Aviation Group)
Pacific northwest hub, allowing
travellers from the Midwest to
connect to a large choice of
destinations. Currently, Atlanta-
based Delta Air Lines is the only
operator serving the route with
737-800s. (Photo Alaska Airlines)
Canberra Master Plan Confirmed
THE PRIMARY airport serving the
Australian capital has been given
the go-ahead for its master plan.
Following government approval,
the initiative incorporates a
20-year vision for Canberra that
caters for development based on
projections for future growth. This
follows four previous schemes
between 1999 and 2014.
Michael Thomson, head of
aviation at Canberra, said: “The
airport currently serves more than
three million passengers per year,
but those numbers are forecast to
rise to more than nine million by
2040, if all goes to plan. Canberra
Airport’s ethos is to invest early to
provide room for growth.”
It is estimated that the complex
serves a local catchment area
Indian Free Trade Zone Agreement
HYDERABAD AIRPORT has
signed a lease with Indian carrier
SpiceJet to develop a free
trade zone.
The deal includes construction
of a 33,000sq ft (3,000m2)
facility to handle warehousing,
distribution and trade activity
of 900,000 residents, a figure
which is expected to rise to 1.2m
by 2040. It is anticipated that the
project will help boost tourism
and inward investment, with
a goal from airport bosses to
further develop existing air freight
links. The last major infrastructure
upgrades at the site were
completed in 2014 and included
a AU$480m overhaul of the
terminal, along with a new apron
and car parking facilities.
Michael McCormack, deputy
prime minister and minister
for infrastructure, transport
and regional development,
commented: “The airport
and these developments are
expected to indirectly support
more than 37,000 jobs and
within the area. If future demand
dictates, the development can
be expanded up to a further
100,000sq ft (9,000m2).
Ajay Singh, SpiceJet chairman
and managing director, said:
“[This] first-of-its-kind initiative in
India will enhance and facilitate
generate AU$6.8bn in economic
activity by 2028. To support
this, the master plan recognises
Canberra Airport’s commitment
to major infrastructure upgrades,
to cater to the expected increase
in passenger numbers.”
Project chiefs have also taken
the opportunity to research
mid-to-long-term plans for the
complex. One such proposal
sees Canberra handling 24-hour
domestic and freight traffic.
Over time, it is possible that the
Australian capital could ease
congestion away from the two
Sydney airports (following the
opening of the new Western
Sydney Airport) within the state
of New South Wales. The lifespan
of Canberra’s main runway (17/35)
cargo industry in the country.
The free trade zone and the
end-to-end service provided by
[the cargo arm] will greatly boost
businesses, saving valuable time
for our partner companies.”
Under its SpiceXpress
subsidiary, SpiceJet rosters
is also under consideration, as it
is expected to reach full capacity
over the coming decades,
potentially requiring adjacent land
to be used for a parallel strip.
The developments follow major
infrastructure works at other
Australian gateways. In 2005,
an AU$260m terminal was
opened in Adelaide (see p72-81)
while Brisbane is scheduled to
conclude an eight-year runway
construction project later in 2020.
Elsewhere, an entirely new airport
is being built on the outskirts of
Sydney. Slated to open in 2026
and eventually become one of
Australia’s major hubs, the airport
will be named after aviation
pioneer Nancy Bird Walton. (Photo
Wikimedia Commons/Bidgee)
a trio of Boeing 737-700Fs,
which support both freight and
warehousing activities across
the Indian sub-continent. The
free trade zone aims to boost
industries in the aerospace,
defence, electronics and
automotive sectors.
www.key.aero 17
 News
Tampa’s Fabulous Flamingo
FLORIDA’S TAMPA International
gateway has unveiled details
for an eye-catching artwork
featuring a 21ft (6m) flamingo for
the terminal building ahead of its
installation in November. Named
‘Home’ by creator Matthew
Mazzotta, the bird was chosen due
to its local significance with the
Sunshine State.
Airport chief executive Joe
Lopano said: “We are more than
a place that people simply pass
through – we are the first and
last impression of the Tampa
Bay region. Public art is critical
to creating a sense of place and
Facing the Facts at Hobby
HOUSTON’S SECOND airport,
William P Hobby, has started using
facial recognition for arriving
and departing international
passengers. The rollout is a first
for Texas and follows an initial
launch on February 19. One of
the major goals from the use of
the technology is to cut down
queue times at US Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) desks. A
18 airports of the world // May-June 2020
leaving our guests with a unique
and engaging experience.”
Mazzotta’s flamingo design was
one of seven winners selected
from 734 entrants. Some of the
other pieces on display as part of
the initiative include sculptures
and murals.
Chris Minner, executive vice
president of marketing for Tampa
International, added: “Every
airport has terminals, seating,
gates and travellers, and every
airport functions as a gateway.
But how this initial experience
happens during those welcomes
and goodbyes is what elevates
simple process involves arriving
passengers having their image
processed, which is then matched
with one previously supplied by
the individual.
Judson W Murdock II, airport
director of field operations,
commented: “The speed,
accuracy and reliability of
facial comparison technology
enables CBP officers to confirm a
our shared experience and invites
our travellers to become true
representatives of our region.”
The plans build on Tampa’s
ongoing public art programme,
where passengers are able to
enjoy artwork from the airport’s
own collection, including
regular exhibitions dedicated to
individual artists. Over the years,
several unique installations have
included a silicon bronze statue
called ‘The Barnstormer’, which
celebrates human flight, and a tile
collage of tropical fish located in
baggage reclaim.
In further good news for the
traveller’s identity within seconds,
while further enhancing the
customer experience.”
Mario Diaz, Houston’s aviation
director, added: “[The airport] has
taken a big leap into the future
of travel. Simplified arrivals will
enhance the travel experience for
more than a million international
passengers travelling through
Hobby every year.”
Florida hub, Tampa was voted
as the best facility in the 15-25m
passenger category within North
America by Airports Council
International. Last year, it served
22.2m travellers and is in the
stages of a $2.2bn expansion to
raise annual passenger numbers
to 34m. Infrastructure upgrades are
due to include 16 new airbridges,
along with a new commercial
development area. While many
operations are suspended due to
COVID-19, Tampa’s regular route
network comprises North America,
the Caribbean and Europe. (Photo
Tampa International Airport)
The Texas facility is also
giving passengers the option
of a manual inspection for
those not wanting to have their
faces scanned.
Houston’s other gateway, George
Bush Intercontinental, used
biometric identification trials
for arriving passengers in 2018.
(Photo Wikimedia Commons/
formulanone)
 Digital Cargo for Luxembourg

THE AIRPORT of Luxembourg
has partnered with Nallian to
develop a data-sharing platform
for freight, known as a ‘cargo
community system’. The facility
is one of Europe’s key freight
gateways and handled 893,000
tons (810,000 tonnes) in 2019. The
initiative will use real-time software
for shipment processing and to
increase planning efficiency.
René Steinhaus, airport chief
executive, said: “With this decision,
[the airport] demonstrates its
commitment to support the
cargo community and to foster
the competitiveness and further
growth of Luxembourg as a
European multimodal logistics
hub. Nallian was selected because
the solution demonstrates their
core competence using best
practice processes framework and
enables for integration with other
cargo communities.”
Jean Verheyen, CEO of Nallian,
added: “We share a common
vision [with the airport] on
the importance and power of
digitisation and data-sharing for air
cargo. We are [ready] to help them
realise their ambition to further
develop the competitiveness of
the airport and the logistics sector
in Luxembourg as a whole.”
Working with local firms including
LuxairCargo and Cargolux, the
scheme, if successful, will cover all
types of freight activities. Starting
later this year, a pilot phase will
operate to test the system’s
capabilities regarding perishable
goods and live animals.
(Photo Luxembourg Airport)

Bonzer New Macau

Lounge for
Sydney
Extension
PLAZA PREMIUM Group
has opened a new lounge
Takes Flight
at Sydney/Kingsford Smith.
Located within Terminal 1 (T1), the
pay-to-use facility can handle up
to 70 customers at a time. Open
between 0600hrs and 2200hrs,
a variety of food and drink
options are available, including
a buffet. For those staying for
longer periods, shower rooms
and rechargeable pods are
also on offer.
Created by IA Design, the
lounge has a local theme, with
Tasmanian oak complementing
other bespoke touches. Large
windows add plenty of natural
light, while offering superb
views of the apron and runway.
Sydney becomes the third
Australian gateway in the Plaza
MACAU AIRPORT started the to rise to 10m annually from Southeast Asia. In addition to
portfolio following Brisbane
latest phase of construction on its the current 7.8m. As part of the passenger operations, the site has
and Melbourne/Tullamarine.
new southern terminal building on upgrade, a larger departure a 199,000sq ft (18,500m2) freight
Later this year, the firm is
March 11. A ceremony was held hall and three new airbridges building that carries 181,000 tons
due to open another facility
to mark the occasion, with senior will be built. (165,000 tonnes) annually.
at the New South Wales hub
representatives from the facility, Due the ongoing difficulties Over the last decade, bosses at
with the introduction of its
building contractors and other associated with COVID-19, the hub have launched a ‘green
Aerotel concept.
stakeholders all present. construction workers throughout airport’ transformation project.
Sydney is the country’s
The expansion is due to increase the project will be required to This five-year environmental plan
largest gateway serving 44.4m
the terminal area by 182,000sq wear masks and take regular body is designed to increase energy
travellers in 2018. The airport
ft (17,000m2) and is slated for temperature checks. efficiency by 2.8m kW by utilising
also handles the largest
completion by 2021. The project The Macau gateway has been solar power and replacing vehicles
amount of freight imports and
will allow the complex to handle open since November 1995, with more environmentally
exports in Australia, comprising
increased passenger demand, handling traffic to destinations friendly ones.
45% of the national total.
facilitating traveller numbers within mainland China and (Photo Macau International Airport)

www.key.aero 19
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Between
Ayers Rock
and a Hard
Place
Qantas has stored
Airbus A380s in
Chris Frame provides
Dresden, Abu Dhabi an overview of Aussie
and at its home base
of Sydney. efforts to mitigate the
AirTeamImages.com/
Matthieu Pouliot impact of COVID-19 at
the nation’s airports.

22 airports of the world // May-June 2020

W
hen the World Health
Organization declared
COVID-19 to be “a public
health emergency of
international concern” in late January,
Australia was among the first nations in
the world to enact a series of preventive
measures to control the spread of
the disease.
These never-before-seen restrictions
have resulted in widespread cuts to
international flying, while domestic travel
has been slashed due to government
social distancing requirements that year earlier, while Brisbane Airport’s enjoyed strong growth, making it among ABOVE: Qantas
restrict all but essential journeys within international passengers were down the first airports to feel the impact. widebodies including
the country. almost 8%.” Speaking to Airports of the World, Airbus A330s and
While COVID-19 has impacted almost Bourke said the fall in passenger Melbourne Airport’s executive corporate A380s in addition to
all elements of our daily lives, this is numbers represents a “loss of hundreds and public affairs, Jai McDermott, Boeing 747-400ERs
especially true for the aviation industry. of thousands of passengers nationally.” explained that the impact to Chinese and 787-9s have
Australia’s airports are facing an He was quick to point out that such carriers was significant as “China been stored at
unprecedented crisis, as demand for air significant change affected not only has been a big driver of growth for Sydney/Kingsford
travel has all but disappeared. airports, but has had a knock-on effect Melbourne in recent years… As the Smith airport.
on businesses that rely on them. COVID-19 crisis has evolved, the V1images.com/
TranquilAviPhotos
First Signs of Trouble As Australia’s second biggest hub, destruction of international demand has
One of the government’s first moves Melbourne Airport (MEL) has historically been relentless.”
in response to the initial coronavirus
outbreak was to restrict travel to and
from mainland China. Visitors from the
country make up the largest group of
international arrivals to Australia, so the
reduction of flights from Chinese cities
had an immediate impact on airlines and
airports across the country.
Simon Bourke is the Australian
Airports Association’s (AAA) acting
chief executive. He gave some context
as to the scale of change faced by the
nation’s airports in the early months
of 2020: “By the end of February,
international passenger numbers in
Australia were at their lowest level since
2013, after many years of strong growth.
“In February, both Sydney and
Melbourne airports saw international
passenger numbers fall by about
17% compared to the same period a

The country’s second

largest airline,
Virgin Australia,
has requested
government
assistance amounting
to AU$1.4bn.
AirTeamImages.com /
Andrew Hunt

www.key.aero 23
ABOVE: Lounges, Leonie Vandeven, Brisbane Airport’s the foreseeable future. Brenton Cox, fair to say we’re in uncharted territory and
including the Virgin head of media and corporate executive general manager finance the pandemic is affecting airports on a
Australia-affiliated communication, echoed McDermott’s and corporate at Adelaide Airport, told scale not seen before. While the industry
My Lounge at sentiments: “Things changed rapidly Airports of the World: “We started to see has deep expertise to draw from in a time
Brisbane Airport, from February 1, when advice from the first cancellations in February with like this, it has required all of us working
were forced to
the Australian government [became] China Southern [Airlines]. That, of course, in aviation to continue to adapt and learn
close on March
‘do not travel to Mainland China’. quickly escalated into early March. Our as we go.”
23, along with
Suspensions of operations from Brisbane last international service departed on Airports across Australia began enacting
other restaurants
and bars. Airport to mainland China came into effect March 27 and our international passenger their respective crisis management plans
terminals have since throughout February, which impacted precinct is now effectively closed.” during the early days of the outbreak
been restricted to China Southern [Airlines], China Eastern and have had to adapt their operations
employees and [Airlines] and Hainan Airlines flights Crisis Response quickly – sometimes daily – in order to
ticketed travellers. to Brisbane.” As COVID-19 spread, countries quickly stay ahead of the fast-evolving situation.
Brisbane Airport When venues such as bars and pubs moved to secure their borders. In March, Jai McDermott said that prior to the
were ordered to close on March 23, the Australian government introduced coronavirus outbreak, Melbourne
airport lounges across the country were mandatory 14-day isolation periods for Airport’s crisis plan was regularly tested
shut down, while terminals were all inbound passengers, which were against real-world scenarios. However,
ABOVE RIGHT: closed to visitors by April 1, with only followed by a move to effectively ban he added that “few could have predicted
Brisbane Airport is crew or ticketed travellers able to access all unnecessary international travel. The the scale and speed of the impacts that
using its recently airport facilities. scale of travel restrictions now in place COVID-19 would have on the aviation
decommissioned While most Australian airports have have not been seen since World War industry. We made our first assessment of
Runway 14/32 to faced significant flight cancellations Two, leading air travel to grind to a halt the crisis on January 16 and have so far
store airliners. already in 2020, several have seen all across the country. been prepared for each new challenge
Brisbane Airport international services suspended for AAA’s Simon Bourke commented: “It’s we have faced. We are effectively

Virgin Australia and

JetStar Airways have
parked some of their
narrowbody jets at
Brisbane Airport.
v1images.com
/Stirling Day

24 airports of the world // May-June 2020

dealing with two crises at once: one is a
public health crisis and the other is the
economic crisis.”
Ensuring Wellbeing
While airport operators are not directly
responsible for passenger screening,
teams across the country’s airports are
working closely with both federal and
state governments to ensure the public
adheres to expert health advice, while
facilitating an inter-agency approach
to secure borders and facilitate the
screening of arriving passengers.
Simon Bourke of the AAA says that
airports have prioritised the health and
wellbeing of both staff and passengers.
Protecting workers is no mean feat, given
the nature of work at airports, with many
jobs featuring a high degree of public
interaction. Check-in teams, security,
ground services personnel and
aircraft crews are in regular contact with
people passing through the airport,
while baggage handlers and cargo arrivals hall. That has been a triumph of BELOW LEFT: Sydney/
logistics teams are exposed to luggage our team working collaboratively with Bankstown is one
and parcels, which may result in state and federal government agencies. of few airfields to
contact contamination. If anyone showed symptoms, they were have recorded an
In fact, a recent cluster of cases in South put straight into an ambulance – no increase in traffic
Australia has been linked to baggage messing around.” since the COVID-19
handlers working at Adelaide Airport. Additionally, both Melbourne and outbreak began,
This virus spike prompted SA Health to Launceston have implemented numerous due to an increase in
both fixed and rotary
work alongside Qantas to thoroughly health measures, including boosting the
wing air ambulance
clean its airport baggage handling area. frequency of cleaning throughout the
movements from
Facilitating government health checks of terminals, increasing access to hand the site.
incoming travellers is another challenge sanitiser, installing visual aids to help Sydney Metro Airports
that airports have faced for the past few passengers adhere to social distancing
months. Jai McDermott said that both rules, and promoting government
Melbourne Airport and Launceston advice on methods to slow the spread
Airport – which are operated by Australia of COVID-19. BELOW: China
Pacific Airports Corporation – have A similar approach is being taken at Southern is among
aligned their operational activities with Perth Airport, which despite the the overseas carriers
the latest health advice: “From the arrival nation-wide travel downturn, is currently hardest hit by travel
of the first Chinese flights [at Melbourne] working with airlines and government to restrictions, in
after restrictions came into place, we maintain vital flights required to keep the efforts to slow the
had dedicated specific gates to facilitate country’s mine sites operational. spread of COVID-19.
tailored processing and the necessary To aid workers in maintaining a AirTeamImages.com/
health checks separately from the main minimum 5ft (1.5m) physical distance Simon Willson
www.key.aero 25
Austrian Airlines in the terminal, the airport has recently
flew this Boeing partnered with the Chamber of Minerals
777-200ER, OE-LPD and Energy of Western Australia to place
(c/n 35960), from marked lines on the floor of Terminal
Vienna to Sydney 2, from where the bulk of mining
to repatriate flights depart.
Austrian citizens. Protecting employees is also high
V1images.com/ on the agenda for airports across the
TranquilAviPhotos
country. Adelaide’s Brenton Cox said
that proactive activities include splitting
front-line teams across various buildings
to ensure “contingency for
key operational resources. Before
working consistently from home,
non-frontline staff had initially been
split into two teams where staff work
one week in the office and one week
at home, again to reduce the likelihood
of entire teams or critical staff being
impacted simultaneously.
“We have [also] provided regular staff Lee said that facilitating these vital including Runway 14/32, the smaller,
updates on hygiene practices and social operations requires the airport to recently decommissioned cross runway,”
distancing, [and] have issued additional remain in “constant communication said Leonie Vandeven, noting that 50
personal protective equipment (PPE) to with the government and our tenants aircraft had already been stored at
all frontline staff, training in how to use to ensure those using our facilities are the airport.
the PPE and ensured adequate PPE fully compliant with Federal and State Melbourne is also planning to
stock levels.” Government [health] directives.” accommodate up to 100 aircraft, with
As a hub for aeromedical and McDermott advising that the gateway
emergency services, Bankstown Airport Uncertain Future is “working with Australian carriers on
is facing a different challenge. The At the end of March, flag carrier Qantas logistics to park aircraft free of charge”.
facility, located in Western Sydney, is had suspended all international flights Additionally, airports are welcoming an
experiencing an increase in movements until at least May and dramatically cut array of carriers not commonly seen. This
of emergency services aircraft. back its domestic presence. Virgin includes Germany’s Condor, which sent
Lee de Winton, chief executive of Australia made a similar move, grounding Boeing 767-300ERs from Frankfurt to
Sydney Metro Airports, which runs international services until June 14, while Perth, and Austrian Airlines, which flew a
the site, told Airports of the World that domestic flights have also been slashed. Boeing 777-200ER on a direct 16,000km
this was due to an increase in patient With much of Australia’s airliner fleet journey between Vienna and Sydney.
transfer operations by both fixed and grounded, parking space at airports Despite the COVID-19 crisis now
Qantas has phased
rotary wing aircraft: “Bankstown Airport across the country is at a premium. entering its fourth month, normality is still
out its final Boeing is centrally located to many newly “[Brisbane Airport] is looking at a long way off. Current estimates put the
747s owing to refurbished hospitals and its physical accommodating up to 100 aircraft, in distribution of a viable vaccine anywhere
a reduction in characteristics make it perfect for aircraft addition to regular, albeit heavy reduced, between 12 and 18 months away,
passenger numbers. such as emergency services King Airs, operations… We have created an meaning aviation may continue to
V1images.com/ as well as smaller jets and helicopter additional 10 dedicated parking zones to experience significant disruption until
Marek Horák patient transfer operations.” accommodate the increased demand, sometime in 2021.

26 airports of the world // May-June 2020

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Canucks
Snapshot

on Camera
Catalinas and Cansos abound as regular contributor Ron Mak offers up a
selection of Canadian classics from a 1980s trip to the Great White North.

Avro Vulcan B.2, XL361 (c/n SET33), is one of three examples displayed outside the UK and the
only one preserved in Canada. While flying from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, to Offutt Air Force
Base, Nebraska, it developed an in-flight fire and diverted to Goose Bay, Newfoundland. With the
rest of the RAF’s Vulcan fleet being scrapped, it was deemed too costly to repair the Rolls-Royce
Olympus-powered jet and it was donated to the nearby town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay as a CP Air – later Canadian Airlines International – leased this McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N1836U
symbol of friendship between the RAF and the community. (c/n 47968), from United Airlines between June 1983 and June 1987.

This 1958-built de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter, (c/n 262), was delivered to Luanda-based
Petrofina SA as CR-LDA. It was acquired by LabAir in 1971 and spent 17 years with the Goose
Bay-headquartered charter, mail and freight specialist as C-FZYL, then sold in 1988 to Ward
Air of Juneau, Alaska. Its Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial was swapped for a Honeywell TPE331
turboprop in 2004 and it continues to fly for Wings Airways.

28 airports of the world // May-June 2020


The Canadair CL-215 replaced the Catalina and Canso as an aerial firefighter with the government
of Newfoundland and Labrador. This example, C-GDKW (c/n 1095), flew with the province’s air
service division from 1987 to 2010, when it was sold to Buffalo Airways
Eastern Flying Service operated this 1974-built Swearingen SA226 Merlin IV, C-GVCY (c/n AT-003),
on freight services. It was written-off in a runway excursion at Deer Lake, Newfoundland, on
December 6, 1993, while flying for Provincial Airlines.
During World War Two, Canadian Vickers licence-built 380 Consolidated PBY Catalina
flying boats for the Canadian Air Force and US Army Air Force as the PBV-1A Canso and
OA-10A respectively. This example, one of 230 OA-10s built, was used by the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Air Service Division between October 1978 and 1990. It is now
preserved at Botwood Flying Boat Museum, Newfoundland.
Lockheed produced 284 C-141A Starlifters for the US Air Force between 1963 and 1968. All but 14
examples of the Pratt & Whitney TF-33-powered transporters, including 65-0250 (c/n 6101), were
upgraded to C-141B standard from 1977 to 1982. The modification involved extending the fuselage
by 23ft 4in (7.11m) to capitalise on the jet's 342,100 lb (147,000 kg) maximum take-off weight.
Air Atlantic operated a 22-strong fleet of de Havilland Canada Dash-8-100s, including C-GAAC
(c/n 047), on behalf of Canadian Pacific Air Lines and, later, Canadian Airlines.
Consolidated PBY-5A, CF-HFL (c/n 520), crashed on October 1, 1957, while returning to Goose Bay
after having transported diesel to an isolated communications site at Sona Lake, Newfoundland.
There were no fatalities in the accident and, in 1986, the aircraft was acquired by Atlantic Canada
Aviation Museum and recovered by a Royal Canadian Air Force Boeing Vertol CH-147 Chinook.
www.key.aero 29
 Snapshot

Parry Sound, Ontario-based Avolon Aviation had a fleet of eight Consolidated PBY-6A
waterbombers. This example, CF-IZZ (c/n 2134), was purchased from Protection Civile (later
Sécurité Civile) in 1973. Sold to Spain in 1992 as EC-FMC, it has since been re-registered N24VP
and is currently being restored to flight at Ocaña, Spain.

Ten Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitans – a Napier Eland-powered development of the Convair
CV-440 – were produced as a successor to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s ageing Douglas C-47
Dakotas. Later re-engined with Allison 501-Ds, the turboprops served with CFB Ottawa-based 412
Sqn between 1960 and 1994.
Inter City Airways was a short-lived Canadian carrier, starting and ceasing operations during
1986. It used this former Bundesanstalt für Flugsicherung (German Federal Administration
of Air Navigation Services) Hawker Siddeley HS 748, C-GEGJ (c/n 1711), on services between
Oshawa and Windsor. The Rolls-Royce Dart-powered propliner was sold to Air Inuit following
Inter City’s collapse.

This Convair CV-580, C-GNMQ (c/n 340-161), was initially built as a CV-340 and was delivered
as N73148 to United Airlines in March 1954. While serving in Venezuela with Avensa, the aircraft
was hijacked during a connection between Barcelona/General José Antonio Anzoáteguiand
and Caracas/Simón Bolívar. The flight was diverted to Curaçao, where it was refuelled and
passengers were released, before continuing to Havana, Cuba. It joined the Nordair Metro fleet in
1986 and was scrapped in 1993.

30 airports of the world // May-June 2020

Air Canada used McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, C-FTLJ (c/n 47019), between July 1967 and Boeing 737-200, C-FNAP (c/n 20496), was delivered new to Nordair in June 1971. It flew with a
February 2000. While the 86-seater was scrapped at Montréal/Trudeau in 2004, sister ship host of Canadian carriers – including CP Air, Canadian Airlines, Royal Aviation Express and Canada
C-FTLL was preserved at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum at Ottawa/Rockliffe. 3000 Airlines – until it was sold to Fernley, Nevada-based wet lease specialist Logistic Air.

The seventh Fokker F-28 Fellowship to roll off the Schiphol production line, c/n 11013 was delivered
new to Braathens SAFE as LN-SUO in December 1969. It joined the Quebec Air fleet in 1986 as
C-GQBS, spending three years with the Canadian operator. Having flown in France with TAT
European Airlines for six years from 1989, it ended its flying career in 1996 and was scrapped at
Dinard/Bretagne the following year.

This Bell CH-135 Twin Huey, 135114 (c/n 32014), was based at Goose Bay with 424 Sqn Royal The early de Havilland Canada DHC-8s have proved extremely popular in their home market. This
Canadian Air Force during the author’s visit. It is now preserved at the Canada Aviation and Space Dash 8-100 example, C-GANF (c/n 042), first flew in May 1986. It has spent its entire working life
Museum at Ottawa/Rockliffe, Ontario. in Canada and continues to fly for Wasaya Airways as a freighter.

Lockheed Constellation, CF-RNR (c/n 4544), was delivered to Trans Canada Air Lines in May 1954
as CF-TGE. It was removed from the Canadian register in 1967 and, over the next 45 years, was
used as a bar, restaurant, conference space and delicatessen at several locations in Canada. It
was acquired by The Museum of Flight, Seattle, in 2004, and underwent a thorough restoration
before being placed on display in September 2009.

www.key.aero 31
FEATURE

USH
USHUAIA, ARGENTIN
A
20
I8 90 50 6A O W 20

Ushuaia
The World’s End
32 airports of the world // May-June 2020
Ushuaia is the world’s southernmost town and closer to The airport’s proximity
to the Martial mountains
Antarctica than Buenos Aires. Aviation is an essential is one of several factors
that make approaches to
part of life in the Tierra del Fuego, and the region has Runway 25 so challenging.
Michael Invernoz/AvStock
now become an unusual tourist destination, as
Renato Fonseca and Rafael Reca discover.

www.key.aero 33
 W
ABOVE RIGHT: The hile its location – 1,477
bright and spacious miles (2,378km) south
check-in area.
of Buenos Aires – may
Rafael Reca/AvStock
suggest that Ushuaia is
merely a gateway to Antarctica, it is
ABOVE: The becoming a major tourist destination
departure hall at in its own right as increasing numbers
Ushuaia/Malvinas of travellers are visiting the Tierra del
Argentinas Airport. Fuego region. The area is particularly
Rafael Reca/AvStock popular with sightseers wanting to
explore its national parks or sail through
Beagle Channel to visit the nearby
RIGHT: The site's penguin and seal colonies, as well as
modest terminal is skiers and those wanting to trek through
equipped with a pair the Martial Mountains or climb on to the
of jetbridges. Martial Glacier.
Rafael Reca/AvStock
This year, it is 25 years since Ushuaia’s
Malvinas Argentinas International Airport
(USH/SAWH) opened. The anniversary
The striking is much more than a celebration of the
terminal building
was designed by
Uruguayan architect
Carlos Ott.
Sebastian Sowa/ Argentina
AvStock

34 airports of the world // May-June 2020

airport, but how it has helped changed
the shape of the town and the region.
The local tourism industry has grown
considerably, not solely by the increase
in air links, but by making the area a
more attractive destination to many
cruise ship operators.
Patagonia was first documented on film
by Munich-born Günther Plüschow in
the late 1920s. The pioneering German
aviator and author was based in Punta
Arenas, Chile – 155 miles (255km) to
the northwest of Ushuaia – but began
exploring Isla Grande de Tierra del
Fuego in 1928 and was the first person
to land an aircraft there. However, during
his second expedition to the area, he
and his engineer, Ernst Dreblow, were
killed when Plüschow’s Heinkel HD 24
floatplane crashed close to the Perito
Moreno glacier on January 28, 1931.
A replica of his aircraft, fitted with the
original propeller, is on permanent
display outside Aeroclub de Ushuaia, at
what is now known as Ushuaia Naval Air
Base, north of the current airport.
That same year, the first air links
began in Ushuaia. A 2,625ft (800m)
gravel runway was built by Argentinian
prisoners from Ushuaia penitentiary
(no longer in use, but you can tour
the building), which enabled Rufino
Luro Cambaceres to land an Advance
Aircraft Company (later Waco Aircraft)
ASO three-seat, open-cockpit biplane.
The Argentinian Navy (Armada de la
República Argentina, ARA) took control
of the airfield in 1946 and increased
the unpaved strip to 4,593ft (1,400m).
Aeroposta began using the improved
facility from 1948, using Douglas DC-3s
on passenger services, as well as to
transport fresh fruit and vegetables from
the continent. Fact:
The ARA operated C-47A and the
larger C-54 from Ushuaia, later replacing When Aerolíneas
the Douglas piston-powered types Argentinas
with the Beechcraft King Air 200. The began to place
country’s presidential flight which used Boeing 737-800s
a Boeing 757-200, T-01 (c/n 25487), on routes to
visited in 1995 and remains the largest the Tierra del
aircraft to land at the base. Currently, Fuego hub, only
its only users are the local flying club captains were
and HeliUshuaia, a local helicopter permitted to take
sightseeing company. A former ARA off and land at
DC-3, 0172 (c/n 9578), has been Ushuaia.
preserved at the base in recognition of
the force’s time at the site.
Between March 1976 and December
1983, Argentina was controlled by a
military junta. During the period, an
increased focus on border security was
taken by nationalists, who viewed Tierra
del Fuego, divided between Argentina
and Chile, to be of most concern. To LEFT: Ushuaia’s port,
this day, driving to Isla Grande de the town’s other
main transport link,
Tierra del Fuego requires crossing the
can be seen on final
Strait of Magellan into Chile before
approach to its earlier
re-entering Argentina, making it a very airport, previously
sensitive point. The establishing of a known as Ushuaia
special customs regime made Tierra Naval Air Base.
del Fuego a tax-free area and brought Alejandro Drigani/
industrialisation to a region which had AvStock
previously focused on sheep farming
and fishing. The prospect of jobs led to
an increase in the population, making
it harder for Chile to claim the land
as its own.
As Ushuaia grew, so did its demand
for regular air links. Initially during the Aircraft only land on
southern summer months of 1974-75, Runway 25 due to the
Aerolíneas Argentinas was granted large hill close to the
07 end.
a temporary licence to operate 43
Rafael Reca/AvStock
www.key.aero 35
RIGHT: Ushuaia’s flights using Boeing 737-200s. At the
control tower time, Líneas Aéreas del Estado (LADE)
is located away was the airline responsible for services
from the terminal in Patagonia. The state-owned carrier, a
buildings. It was built branch of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina
on the top of a small (FAA, Argentinian Air Force), used
hill to aid visibility. Fokker F-27 Friendships and Lockheed
Alejandro Drigani/ (now Lockheed Martin) C-130 Hercules.
AvStock
From 1976, LADE was also able to use
its F-28 Fellowship regional jets on
the route, however jets were banned
Fact: during the winter months until 1984. The
decision to grant commercial operators
One of the most unrestricted access to Ushuaia followed
popular cruises a series of meetings between the ARA,
in the region is pilots and the defence minister, enabling
run by National Aerolíneas to resume a three times
Geographic, weekly connection to Buenos Aires/
which offers a Jorge Newbery via Bahia Blanca, Rio
14-day Antarctica Gallegos and Rio Grande.
Expedition The naval base had been known for
costing more its challenging approach to runway 34,
than £11,000 which included flying close to mountains
per person. and over parts of the town. Additionally,
both runway thresholds are around
80-100ft (25-30m) from the Beagle
RIGHT: Aerolíneas has Channel. Despite this, there were only
the largest presence two incidents in more than 10,000 flights.
of any carrier at the During a 1986 strike by commercial
remote airport. pilots, the government instructed pilots
Rafael Reca/AvStock from the military to operate Aerolíneas
aircraft to maintain the nation’s air
BELOW RIGHT: transport links. On one such flight in
Aeroclub de Ushuaia July 1986, an F-28 Fellowship suffered
is one of two a runway excursion in snowy conditions,
companies based at while two years later a Boeing 737-200
the former Ushuaia ran off the end of the runway and into
Naval Air Base site. the Beagle Channel. There were no
Michael Invernoz/ fatalities in either accident, but to reduce
AvStock the risk of further incidents, the runway

Airport Statistics
IATA code: USH
ICAO code: SAWH
Location: 54°50’22.6”S 68°18’43.9”W
Elevation: 102ft (31m)
Runways: 07/25 9,186 x 148ft (2,800 x 45m)
Frequencies: Twr: 118.1 MHz
App: 118.1 MHz
Grd: -
Website: www.aeropuertoushuaia.com
Passengers (2018): 929,000

was extended to 5,545ft (1,690m) in Airport in recognition of Argentina’s

1987, while electronic sensors to inform
pilots of wind speed and direction were
installed in 1989.
Despite the improvements, it became
evident that a larger, better equipped
airport was needed, so work to build a
more modern facility began in 1991. A
10,827ft (3,300m) runway was built on a
heading of 25/07, which greatly reduced
the crosswind on approach. It was also
wider and stronger – enabling widebody
airliners to land – as well as being
equipped with a VOR/DME system. This
was later upgraded to an instrument
landing system. The new airport was
Copyright © 2020 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the flight
simulation community via Navigraph Charts, https://www.navigraph.com. (Not for airborne/
opened on November 27, 1995, and
operational use) named Malvinas Argentinas International
sovereign claim to the Falkland Islands.
While the terminal was under
construction, passengers were bussed
3 miles (5km) from the old airport to their
aircraft. In June 1997, the new facility
– a striking wood and stone building
with steeply peaked roofs designed
by Carlos Ott, was opened. It has since
been expanded to provide more larger
check-in and boarding areas, while
provisions for a third airbridge were
made, although it has yet to be added.
In 1998, a Boeing 747 visited for the
first time. The Tower Air-operated
example, N610FF (c/n 20501), was used
on a charter service from Miami. The
type would make regular appearances

36 airports of the world // May-June 2020

as Aerolíneas Argentinas transferred Lufthansa Boeing
its fuel stops from Rio Gallegos to 747-400, D-ABVO
Ushuaia on routes from Buenos Aires to (c/n 28086), returns
Auckland, New Zealand. to Frankfurt. The
The Argentinian flag carrier would German flag carrier
also use the Airbus A330-200 and has used a 747 and
A340-300 on rotations from Buenos an Airbus A340-600
Aires/Ezeiza owing to high demand on cruise charters
to Ushuaia.
during the peak season. During summer
Michael Invernoz/
2019-2020, Aerolineas flew around
AvStock
40 weekly services to Ushuaia as it
transported around 70% of the 60,000
passengers embarking on Antarctic
cruises from Tierra del Fuego. Despite
this, links to the capital are now
primarily flown by Boeing 737s from the
smaller Aeroparque/Jorge Newbery
site, because the airline has recently
downsized its widebody fleet to ten
A330s. Austral, the company’s domestic
subsidiary, also offers a daily connection LEFT: European
to Aeroparque. This is complemented by carriers, including
a five-times-weekly rotation to Cordoba Austrian Airlines,
and a thrice weekly Bahía Blanca-Mar operate occasional
del Plata-Buenos Aires/Ezeiza route, all charters to connect
with Embraer E190s. A seasonal link to with cruises
Santiago is also offered by LATAM Chile. departing from the
During the rest of the year, the airport town’s port.
is still quite busy, predominantly with Michael Invernoz/
links to Buenos Aires/Aeroparque AvStock
provided by Aerolíneas Argentinas, BELOW: Aircraft
Austral, JetSMART and LATAM from Aerolíneas
Argentina. The flag carrier is the most Argentinas, LATAM
dominant, offering 3-4 daily links, and Austral occupy
while its subsidiary also flies daily to the apron area during
Ushuaia. JetSMART currently offers two a busy period in the
weekly links to the capital and, with the summer season.
acquisition of Norwegian Air Argentina Michael Invernoz/
in December, this number is due to AvStock

www.key.aero 37
The terminal opened double once its former rival is absorbed.
in June 1997, more In addition to the capital connections,
than 18 months Aerolíneas serves El Calafate on a thrice
after the rest of weekly basis.
the airport. During As tourism has quickly become the
this interim period, largest industry in the area, charter
passengers checked flights are increasingly common. German
in and passed flag carrier Lufthansa has twice flown
through security at ad hoc charters from Frankfurt using its
the existing Ushuaia
fleet of 747-400s, while an A340-600
Naval Air Base facility
visited from Munich in conjunction with
before being bussed
three miles to their the cruise liner MS Hamburg. Austrian
awaiting aircraft. Airlines and Air Austral 777-200s and Arenas in Chile. 2013 and 2016. Foreign military visitors
Rafael Reca/AvStock Condor 767-300ERs have also visited Speaking at the time, Nathan Kurtz, an are rare, although the Italian Air Force
relating to cruises. IceBridge project scientist stated: “By (Aeronautica Militare) deployed a
Due to the airport’s remote location flying from Ushuaia instead of Punta KC-767, MM62228 (c/n 33688), to the
Ushuaia/Malvinas
close to Antarctica, aircraft supporting Arenas, we’re saving ourselves an hour region on a training exercise in June
Argentinas is one of
the few airports in
scientific expeditions to the southern of flight time during our transit to and 2017, while a Spanish Air Force (Ejercito
the country that is not polar region also visit the Argentinian from Antarctica. Because we’re trying del Aire) Airbus A310, T22-2 (c/n 551),
run by Aeropuertos outpost. As part of Operation IceBridge, to maximise our time collecting new was used to repatriate the body of a
Argentina 2000. a NASA mission to monitor changes in data over and around Antarctica, that sailor who had died on the Spanish polar
London Supply Group polar ice, the US aeronautical branch hour is a big deal.” research vessel BIO Hesperides.
was contracted deployed its Lockheed P-3B Orion, Ilyushin Il-76s on their way to the frozen At the beginning of its regional jets
to oversee its N426NA (c/n 5175), to Ushuaia in continent have also made fuelling and programme in the mid-1990s, Embraer
construction, October 2017 and Douglas DC-8-72, technical stops at the Tierra del Fuego also used the airport for cold weather
management and N817NA (c/n 46082), in November 2018. hub, including GST Aero UN-76004 testing their ERJ135s and 145s.
operation in 1991. While IceBridge had begun in 2009, (c/n 0013434018), which visited in Unusually, two Air France Concordes
Rafael Reca/AvStock monitoring southern polar regions 2004, while Air Almaty’s UP-I7601 (c/n had visited Ushuaia as part of a
had previously taken place at Punta 1013409295) made appearances in fascinating round-the-world charter

ABOVE RIGHT:
Aerolíneas previously
used its widebody
jets on services
from Buenos Aires/
Ezeiza. The carrier
retired its remaining
Airbus A340-300
in February and its
10-strong A330-200
fleet is primarily
used for long-haul
connections.
Sebastian Sowa/
AvStock

The airfield is almost

surrounded by the
Beagle Channel. Its
predecessor, the
former Ushuaia Naval
Air Base, can be seen
to the north.
Juan Manuel
Gonzalez/AvStock

38 airports of the world // May-June 2020

Argentinian Air Force
Lockheed C-130H
Hercules and Fokker
F-27 Troopships are
frequent visitors.
Rafael Reca/AvStock

www.key.aero 39
ABOVE AND ABOVE during January 1999.
RIGHT: NASA has Although the airport is vastly superior
deployed its Douglas to its predecessor, as no special training
DC-8, N817NA is required to land there, it is still a
(c/n 46082), and dangerous and complicated facility
Lockheed P-3B to operate to and from. Mount Olivia
Orion, N426NA (c/n and Mount Susana have yet to move
152735), to Ushuaia away, the weather is extraordinarily
for key airborne unpredictable and can change within
science missions. minutes, and winds can change
Michael Invernoz/
speed and direction suddenly. Heavy
AvStock
turbulence is almost always present
RIGHT: The town’s
during the approach, especially when flybondi, still to make an entrance, it market only just taking off, Tierra del
remote location the winds are from the north, but with is likely that the facility will surpass 1m Fuego may receive a further boost in
means it is an ideal modern aircraft and instruments it is as passengers in the coming years. visitor numbers. Cruise ships are also
staging post for safe as any other airport. Ushuaia is Argentina’s 11th busiest becoming more and more popular. In
aircraft supporting While the town has experienced airport in terms of passengers and, given January 2020 alone, 7,000 people
scientific research a downturn in terms of its industrial the rate at which tourism in the region passed through the airport to begin or
missions in output, the future still looks promising. continues to grow, it is expected that the end their cruises. Additionally, the new
Antarctica. This GST Passenger movements grew by 35% facility may climb another two or three government is likely to make
Aero Ilyushin Il-76TD, between 2015 and 2019 to 929,000 positions this year. The city is also a manufacturing in Ushuaia attractive once
UN-76004 (c/n people passing through the terminal popular domestic tourist destination and, more, increasing the flow of goods to
0013434018), visited doors. With low-cost carriers due to play with the country’s economic and from the city. Plüschow’s legacy
in November 2004. an important role in the coming summer performance making foreign travel lives on and is available for anyone who
Juan Pablo Marini/ season and the country’s largest LCC, expensive and Argentina’s low-cost wishes to fly to the end of the world.
AvStock

A LATAM Airbus
A320-200, LV-HQI
(c/n 3319), is greeted
on arrival by a
rainbow over the
Beagle Channel.
Michael Invernoz/
AvStock

40 airports of the world // May-June 2020

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During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, California’s

Southern California Logistics Airport, also known
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a total of 36 Delta Air Lines Airbus A321s and
Boeing 757s lie silently idle.
AirTeamImages.com/John Kilmer
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Headaches
for Heathrow
A Even before the COVID-
landmark verdict at the Court
of Appeal in late February
2020 ruled that the UK
government’s decision to
expand London/Heathrow with a third
runway was unlawful because it did
not meet the nation’s climate change
commitments. Transport Secretary
Grant Shapps said the government
would review its next move, but would
not appeal the judgement. However,
Heathrow Ltd has vowed to contest the
ruling, renewing uncertainty over just
how and when the growing airspace
capacity battle can be settled.
Back in 2016, the UK government
accepted a recommendation by the
Airports Commission to build a third
runway at Heathrow. Two years later,
MPs voted overwhelmingly – by 415
votes to 119 – in favour of the proposal,
but their decision has been met with
heavy resistance by local residents
and lobbying groups. With expansion
proving so contentious, a raft of public
consultations have taken place, and
environmental groups, councils and
the current Mayor of London, Sadiq
Khan, brought the appeal court
19 crisis, Heathrow
challenge. The ruling in the activists’ bosses were grappling
favour has provided yet another twist
to the long-running saga and set with a number of
the stage for continuing debate.
ongoing high-profile
Expansion Options problems. The
The latest Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
data shows just over 80m travellers biggest of these – its
passed through Heathrow in 2019, an
annual record and the ninth consecutive controversial plan for a
year passenger numbers have
continued to increase. third runway – was ruled
The Airports National Policy Statement
(ANPS), the UK government’s official line illegal in February. Mark
on the expansion adopted in June 2018,
commented: “Heathrow is operating at
Broadbent considers BELOW: An artist’s
impression of what
capacity today, Gatwick is operating at the latest setback in the a newly expanded
capacity at peak times, and the whole Heathrow could look
London airports system is forecast to decades-long British like if built.
be full by the mid-2030s. The ANPS has All Photos
stated that demand at these airports airport saga. Heathrow Airport Ltd
www.key.aero 45

A new runway “is expected to outstrip capacity by at
would add at least least 34%” by 2050, even using a low
260,000 air transport demand forecast.
movements per year “With very limited capability at London’s
according to the major airports, [the city] is beginning
official forecasts.  to find that new routes to important
long-haul destinations are being set up
elsewhere [on the European Continent].
This is having an adverse impact on the
UK economy and affecting the country’s
global competitiveness.”
As the subsequent ANPS report
stated, the commission – reporting
three years later – concluded a
new northwest runway at Heathrow
would offer the greatest strategic and
economic benefits.
The alternatives, either extending
Heathrow’s existing northern runway
(a proposal from a private company,
Heathrow Hub Ltd), or building a
second runway at Gatwick (proposed
by that airport’s owners, Gatwick
Airport Ltd), were dismissed. An earlier
interim report by the Commission had
previously concluded a further option,
a new Thames Estuary hub (an idea
championed a decade ago by the then
London mayor, now the Prime Minister,
Boris Johnson), was unviable.
The report said expansion at Heathrow
Terminal 5 was is “the better option to ensure the
officially opened in number of services on existing routes
2008 and is the hub increases and allows airlines to offer
for British Airways. more frequent new routes to vital
operations. emerging markets.”
46 airports of the world // May-June 2020
Reasons for Expansion…
Coping with increased demand for air
travel and strategic economic benefits
are key to the case for a new runway.
The ANPS noted that other European
hubs such as Paris/Charles de Gaulle,
Frankfurt and Amsterdam/Schiphol
“have spare capacity and are able to
attract new flights to growth markets in
China and South America”, and noted
the competition from the big Gulf hubs.
The ANPS has warned: “The
consequences of not increasing airport
capacity in the southeast of England
– the ‘do nothing’ or ‘do minimum’
scenarios – are detrimental to the UK
economy and the UK’s hub status.
“[Ongoing] capacity constraints lead
to trade-offs in destinations, and while
there is scope to respond to changing
demand patterns, this necessarily
comes at the expense of other
connections. Domestic connectivity
into the largest London airports
will also decline… The Government
believes that not increasing capacity
will impose costs on passengers and
on the wider economy.”
Overall, the ANPS has stated that
aviation contributes around £20bn to
the economy every year and directly
supports approximately 230,000
jobs, while also “enabling activity in
other important sectors like business
services, financial services and the
creative industries”.
…and Arguments Against
Opposition to ‘runway three’ is steadfast,
from vocal pressure groups, which
work with and through the main No 3rd
Runway Coalition. There are dissenting
voices in the House of Commons, too,
despite Parliament overwhelmingly
voting for development. Several local
MPs in constituencies near Heathrow
have concerns over health impacts and
question how more airport capacity is
compatible with legally binding climate
change targets the government has
signed up to. Examples of those against
include Fleur Anderson, Labour MP for
Putney and Munira Wilson, Lib Dem
MP for Twickenham. Anderson stated it
would prevent the UK from being able to
reach its zero-carbon emissions reduction
target by mid-century and has claimed
the impact of 260,000 extra flights a year
would be “acutely felt” and increased
noise “will put an unbearable strain on
the sleeping patterns and the health and
wellbeing of my constituents”.
Court of Appeal Decision
Business groups reacted furiously to
the verdict from the appeal court, with
British Chambers of Commerce director
general Adam Marshall protesting that
firms “risk losing crucial connectivity and
access to key markets.”
However, the Court of Appeal
concluded: “The Paris Agreement [on
climate change] ought to have been
[considered] by the Secretary of State
in the preparation of the ANPS and an
explanation given as to how it was taken
into account, but it was not. That, in our
view, is legally fatal to the ANPS in its
present form.”
However, vocal pressure groups,
which work with and through the main
No 3rd Runway Coalition, along with
environmental campaigners welcomed
the Court of Appeal decision.
Friends of the Earth said the ruling was
“an absolutely ground-breaking result
for climate justice” and the London
Mayor, Sadiq Khan, tweeted to say that
the judgement is “a major victory for all
Londoners who are passionate about
tackling the climate emergency and
cleaning up our air”.
Despite parliament overwhelmingly
voting for development, several local
MPs in constituencies near Heathrow
have repeatedly raised concerns over
health impacts and question how
more airport capacity is compatible
with legally binding climate change
targets the government signed up to
in the 2015 Paris Agreement to reduce
carbon emissions.
For example, during a February 5,
2020 debate on transport, Twickenham
MP Munira Wilson spoke of how
a third runway would be “bad for
[the] climate, bad for our health and
wellbeing.” Similarly, Putney MP Fleur
Anderson said that increased noise
and air pollution would be “a disaster”
for her constituents and others across
southwest London. Both of these MPs
obviously welcomed the Court of
Appeal’s verdict, with Anderson hailing
what she claimed was a “historic ruling”
and Wilson using one word: “Victory”.
What Happens Next?
Heathrow Ltd said it would appeal
the decision at the UK Supreme Court,
saying it is “confident that we will
be successful” and that, “expanding
Heathrow…is essential to achieving the
Prime Minister’s vision of global Britain”.
Before the Court of Appeal decision,
operators Heathrow Ltd said the runway
could open in 2028 or 2029 should the
government sign off its development.
Importantly, the Court of Appeal
judgement stated it had “not decided,
and could not decide, that there will
be no third runway at Heathrow”. Its
decision only means the government
“will now have the opportunity to
reconsider the ANPS”.
A third Heathrow runway could give the
Conservative government, elected with a
substantial parliamentary majority at the
December 2019 general election, another
flagship national infrastructure project to
bolster its narrative of economic “levelling
up”. This would follow the recent approval
of another equally controversial initiative,
the HS2 high-speed railway from London
to northern England, however the Prime
Minister, Boris Johnson, has long been a
vocal critic of Heathrow expansion.
More than a decade ago, while
Johnson was London mayor, he
backed the idea of building the
Thames Estuary hub airport instead
of enlarging Heathrow. Later, under
the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition
government of 2010-2015, he claimed
that he would “lie down in front of those
bulldozers” to stop any construction
work proceeding at Heathrow.
Johnson said in the House of Commons
on February 11, 2020 when speaking
about the HS2 interchange: “Passengers
arriving at Birmingham Airport will be able
to get to central London by train in 38 More than 80.9
minutes, which compares favourably with million passengers
the time it takes to get from Heathrow by used Heathrow in
taxi, a point I just draw to the attention of 2019 – an all-time
the House.” record for the hub.
When asked by Munira Wilson whether
he would keep his promise about the
bulldozers and scrap the third runway
proposal for Heathrow, the PM said: “I
see no bulldozers at present, nor any
immediate prospect of them arriving.”
A ‘no’ decision to more infrastructure
in the southeast could conceivably also
play well in UK regions – areas where
the Conservatives gained ground at the
election and where there are complaints
of central government underfunding.
When asked directly about the runway
during Prime Minister’s Questions on
February 12, 2020, Johnson again
said he did not support the runway,
but would “wait to see the outcome
of the various legal processes that
are currently under way to see if the
promoters of the third runway can satisfy
their legal obligations under air quality
and noise pollution.”
The Court of Appeal’s decision only
adds to the sense that, as The Guardian
stated: “It now looks very easy for a
PM with a large majority to kill the
third runway…”
It is just one of the many decisions Heathrow’s owners
piling up in the 10 Downing Street state it will cost
in-tray once the COVID-19 pandemic £15.6bn to develop
has dissipated. the airport.
www.key.aero 47
FEATURE

VIE Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Vienna International Airport

VIENNA, AUSTRIA was undergoing a period of ambitious upgrade and expansion
I8 90 50 6A O W 20
is response to growing traffic from low-cost newcomers and
legacy full-fare airlines, as Sebastian Schmitz reports.

F
People’s Viennaline lughafen Wien, or Vienna
is a small Austrian International Airport, is the
airline operating aerial gateway to Austria.
from Altenrhein on Comparing the capital’s airport
the shore of Lake to others in the country, its pre-eminent
Constance, fielding a position becomes clear. In 2018,
pair of Embraer 170s. Vienna recorded just over 27 million
All photos author passengers. Austria’s number two in
unless stated terms of passengers, Salzburg, saw
just a few more than 1.8 million.
Among Europe’s busiest airports,
Vienna nonetheless takes a rather
modest 22nd place, between Moscow/
Domodedovo and Stockholm/Arlanda.
Aer Lingus connects In terms of growth, however, it is one
Vienna to the Irish of the most dynamic, achieving 10.8%
capital Dublin, in 2017. Much of this expansion in
as illustrated business has been fuelled by a rapid
by its retro jet, influx of European low-cost carriers.
EI-DVM (c/n 4634). Before the COVID-19 pandemic
AirTeamImages.com/ fundamentally changed the travel
Chris Jilli landscape, easyJet, Eurowings,
Laudamotion, LEVEL and Wizz Air
had all discovered the attraction of
Vienna and engaged in what could
almost be described as a low-cost
battle at the facility.
For long-established legacy operators
like Austrian Airlines, finding a response
to the low-cost influx has been difficult.
Meanwhile, a major refurbishment and

Vibrant
48 airports of the world // May-June 2020
 expansion programme is under way Emirates Airbus
as the airport attempts to cope better A380-861, A6-EEQ,
with its various airline customers and (c/n 141), was an
become more attractive to passengers. unexpected visitor
on the day of the
Military Beginnings author’s visit as it was
The airport’s history dates to the not operating the
late 1930s. Located in the suburb of airline’s scheduled
Dubai service but
Schwechat, 11 miles (18km) southeast of
diverted during a Los
Vienna city centre, the site was initially
Angeles rotation.
military, with civilian passenger flights
using Aspern airport, east of the city and
closer to its centre. By the end of World
War II, Aspern was almost destroyed
and commercial flights began using RAF
Schwechat, as the old airfield became
known while under temporary British
administration. But it had no passenger
terminal and lacked other key facilities, a
Vienna
situation rectified from 1954, when work
began to improve what was to become
Vienna’s new passenger complex.
A small passenger terminal was built
and the single runway (today’s 11/29)
lengthened to 2,000m (6,562ft); later it
was extended to 3,000m (9,843ft) and

Austrian Airlines
dominates Terminal 3
operations at Vienna.

t Vienna www.key.aero 49
ABOVE: in 1997 to 3,500m (11,483ft). The airport serves numerous smaller destinations the east on runway 11/29 fly over runway
The distinctive began to flourish. Austrian Airlines drove in Eastern and Central Europe from 16/34, causing operational limitations.
curved main hall of business, flying its inaugural service Vienna, and the airport is on the network Over the years, Pier West, one of two
Terminal 3. to London from the airport using a of many of those regions’ operators. quite prominent satellite buildings, was
Vickers Viscount in March 1958. It soon Today’s Terminal 2 opened in 1960 and inaugurated, Terminal 1 was added and,
ABOVE RIGHT: Inside developed Vienna as its home base, as passenger numbers continued to in 1996, Pier East constructed.
boarding area C, one building maintenance hangars, training grow, so did the airport. In 1977, a In 1992, the airfield was partly
of the two satellite facilities and other infrastructure. much-needed second runway was privatised. Today’s operator, Flughafen
buildings that are Austria remained neutral during the opened. Initial plans called for its Wien AG, is co-owned by Australian
part of Terminal 1. Cold War, a position that combined with alignment parallel to runway 11/29, but investment fund IFM Investors, the
Vienna’s geographical location to make these were shelved in favour of the federal states of Lower Austria and
the airport an important transit point location of runway 16/34, east of 11/29. Vienna, and a number of smaller
between Eastern and Western Europe. While they do not physically cross each investors. Shares are also traded on the
Today, the Austrian flag carrier still other, flights departing to or landing from Vienna Stock Exchange, where their
price had doubled in the five years to
Taiwanese carrier the end of 2019. Apart from Vienna, its
EVA Air offers daily biggest airport by far, the group also
flights to Taipei holds major investments in the airports
(some of which route of Malta and Košice, Slovakia.
via Bangkok).
Continued rapid growth saw 11
million passengers use Vienna in
1999, a number that doubled by 2011.
More terminal capacity was needed
and, in 2006, ground was broken for
an entirely new building east of the
existing terminals. Initially known as
Skylink, it is now known as Terminal
The Austrian flag
carrier operates just 3. Major construction projects seem
a handful of Boeing frequently to gain in complexity
777 widebodies. and the project suffered numerous
AirTeamImages.com/ delays and cost overruns, attracting
Markus Mainka plenty of unfavourable publicity in the
Austrian media.

Passenger Terminals
The airport now has four passenger
terminals, located within easy walking
distance of one another, although
their layout is perhaps confusing or
even inconvenient, in particular during
transfers from one building to another.
With refurbishment continuing for at
least a couple more years, the situation
is unlikely to improve in the near term.
Unless flying from the new Terminal 3
or transferring between flights within
it, travellers are almost certain to
encounter evidence of construction

50 airports of the world // May-June 2020

somewhere on their airport journey.
Terminal 1 underwent refurbishment
in 2013 and mostly accommodates
airlines from the SkyTeam and oneworld
alliances. Just across the road from The most
Terminal 1, located in front of the control
tower, Europe’s highest at 358ft (109m), significant growth
the rather simplistic Terminal 1A was
intended as a stopgap building for a has resulted
few years’ service. Inaugurated in 2005
to provide additional check-in capacity,
from the rapid
it has remained in use as increasing
passenger numbers have left the
entry of low-cost
airport unable to cope without it. Today, airlines, which
Terminal 1A is primarily for low-cost and
charter airline passengers checking in had continued
or dropping off bags, after which they
proceed to their gate in Terminal 1 for to grow prior to
onward departure.
Terminal 2 – opened in 1960 – is the
the COVID-19
airport’s oldest passenger terminal.
Located between Terminals 1 and 3, it is
pandemic...
little more than a connecting concourse
between them, since it no longer houses
check-in facilities or arrivals.
Airside, there are two satellite
departure areas adjacent to Terminals
1 and 2: the western pier, for B and
C gates; and pier east for D gates. The facility’s control
Concourses B and C have bus gates tower is Europe’s
on their ground floors, used by flights highest at an
to Schengen countries and, following impressive 358ft.
the recent upgrade work, feature a
central security checkpoint for all gates.
Concourse D serves connections to
non-Schengen countries, including
several long-haul flights, among them
Emirates’ daily A380 to Dubai and China
Airlines’ service to Taipei. In concourse
D, security screening still takes place
at the departure gates, an inefficient
process that will change as it undergoes
more further refurbishment.
Terminal 3 opened in 2012 and is
now the home of Austrian Airlines and,
with a few exceptions, its Star Alliance
partners. After early teething troubles,
it is running smoothly and tends to
receive very good reviews from
travellers. The round shape of its main
hall – a wide, open space stretching
across three floors – is quite unusual,
although beyond the central security
checkpoint the layout becomes
more traditional.
Built as a single, long, straight
concourse, with departure gates to
both sides, Terminal 3’s typically
dark, clean surfaces and black
facade, place it among Europe’s
more stylish terminals. With its
inauguration, Vienna definitely
arrived in the 21st century
but, as with any major airport,
development never stops.

www.key.aero 51
Austrian's De gate for the A380. Passengers who
Havilland Canada would normally use D will need to be
Dash 8-400s are distributed among the other concourses
used on both during the upgrade process, likely
domestic and thinner placing a strain on the airport’s capacity.
links in the region. Construction of a southern extension to
Terminal 3 is another of the project’s key
components. It will feature more seating
and lounge areas, further bus departure
gates and, of course, additional
shopping and dining opportunities.
Known as the ‘southern extension’, it
Upgrade and Expansion for passengers accessing boarding will also serve as a convenient
Fuelled by the need for additional areas B, C and D. There will also be connector between its D
capacity, the airport is working through an arrivals area with three baggage concourse and F and G
a €500m upgrade and expansion carousels. Construction is well under in Terminal 3 and will
project. Scheduled to conclude in 2023, way and the inauguration of this first enable passengers
it remains to be seen how much of an milestone was expected for late 2020. to stay airside when
Wizz Air’s Airbus effect the COVID-19 outbreak will have With the Terminal 2 work complete, transferring from
A321-231, HA-LTG on construction. Pier East and boarding concourse D are one to the other.
(c/n 8644), readies The first element for completion is a scheduled for modernisation between Currently this
for a return trip to thorough modernisation of Terminal 2. It 2021 and 2023. The plan includes
Eastern Europe. will house a central security checkpoint a two-level boarding

52 airports of the world // May-June 2020

requires a bus shuttle. The extension will
also house a central security checkpoint
for the entirety of Terminal 3.
Work was scheduled to begin in 2020,
with an expected completion date in
2023. When it’s finished, the terminals
will effectively have been moved closer
together, making connections much
easier and ending the ‘patchwork’ of
facilities that had previously evolved.
Passengers should have the impression
of a one-terminal airport.
Another major programme, unlikely Terminal 1A was
erected on a former
to be realised before 2030, is the
car park in front of T1.
construction of runway number three.
Initially meant as a
Designated 11R/29L, it will run parallel
temporary building,
to and south of runway 11/29, which will it has now become a
be redesignated 11L/29R. Its projected permanent fixture for
length and width of 12,074 x 197ft (3,680 hosting the airport's
x 60m) will make it suitable for all aircraft low-cost airlines.
types. The project has the blessing of
the courts, but even before COVID-19,
construction was some way into the
future, since the existing runway system
is currently adequate and terminal
upgrades have priority.
Meanwhile, Vienna Airport already
provides one of Europe’s best examples
of transport intermodality. The airport
railway station is immediately opposite
the passenger terminals and several
lines connect it to central Vienna,
including the City Airport Train, which
takes only 16 minutes. There are also The airport is a
convenient links to most major Austrian popular location for
cities. Road access is also excellent, with low-cost and legacy
a direct feeder on to motorway A4, from operators.
Vienna to Budapest. Several bus lines Wikimedia Commons/
also connect the airport to locations Stanislav Doronenko

in Austria and cities in neighbouring

countries, including the Czech Republic,
Hungary and Slovakia. For travellers
with an early start, there are two hotels
just across the street from the terminals,
the long-established NH Hotel and the
newly-opened Moxy Hotel, part of the
Marriott Group.

Future Battles
Vienna has been remarkably
successful in attracting new airlines.
Among its long-haul carriers, Air Canada
launched daily Toronto flights in April
2019, All Nippon Airways (ANA) recently
began a daily service to Tokyo/Haneda,
Thai Airways has upgraded its
still-new Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi
service to a daily frequency, while
Hainan Airlines began flying to
Shenzhen. At the same time, Austrian
added routes to Los Angeles, Tokyo/
Narita, Montreal and Cape Town.
Yet the most significant growth has
resulted from the rapid, large-scale
market entry of the low-cost airlines,
which had continued to grow prior
to the COVID-19 crisis. For years,
Vienna seemed to have escaped the
attention of Ryanair, easyJet and their
competitors. As an alternative, carriers
looking to offer low-cost flights from the
area sometimes chose nearby Bratislava
Airport, close to the Slovakian capital

www.key.aero 53
ABOVE: Created by and around 35 miles (55km) away from but the group still wanted a share of the Tenerife, Dortmund, Bergen, Niš (Serbia)
former F1 racing Vienna as the crow flies. Before the Austrian market and decided to go it and Kutaisi (Georgia). The airline
legend Niki Lauda, airlines began grounding their fleets in alone. In July 2018, Anisec operated its achieved massive growth in Vienna
Ryanair subsidiary the wake of coronavirus, Ryanair was inaugural flight, under the LEVEL brand, and by the beginning of the 2019/2020
Lauda has a strong still operating a comprehensive network from Vienna to London/Gatwick. The winter schedule, seven based aircraft
presence at the from Bratislava. link was one of several to European were serving 44 destinations. Although
Austrian capital. When airberlin and its Austrian destinations, operated with an initial fleet this all changed after a March 23
subsidiary NIKI ceased operations in of four Airbus A321ceos. At the launch announcement by the Budapest-based
late 2017, the future looked bleak for event, IAG boss Willie Walsh announced firm having stated that 85 per cent of its
Vienna, since both were among the plans to grow the Vienna-based fleet to fleet had been grounded in response to
airport’s strongest players. But other as many as 30 aircraft within a few years. European travel restrictions. However,
airlines have more than filled the void In early 2018, Wizz Air announced it made clear its intention to resume
they left, creating a flurry of new routes. the opening of a Vienna base. Flights regular service as soon as possible and
OPPOSITE: Eurowings
Also in 2017, International Consolidated started soon after, initially with an there can be little doubt of the carrier’s
Europe use jets such
Airlines Group (IAG) founded an Austrian A320ceo, although a pair of A321ceos commitment to the Vienna market.
as Airbus A319-132,
OE-LYW (c/n 4998), subsidiary called Anisec Luftfahrt, quickly followed. By the end of 2018, Lauda, following the tradition of its
for links to popular intending to use it as a vehicle to take the carrier was serving a colourful mix predecessors, Lauda Air and NIKI, had
holiday hotspots. over ailing carrier NIKI. The plan failed of 17 routes to destinations including also gained market share, its success
bolstered after takeover by Ryanair.
Lauda had 12 aircraft stationed in Vienna
for winter 2019/2020, and a summer
schedule that had been anticipating
service to an impressive 67 routes.
Eurowings – part of the Lufthansa
Group – also competes for market share
One of the many from Vienna, while easyJet previously
competing low-cost grew rapidly to 12 destinations. Some
airlines here is Level smaller European carriers, typified by
which bases A320/ Volotea, have also expanded their
A321ceos in Vienna. networks while Flynas and Air Arabia
fly in from outside the region. Legacy
carriers Saudia and Royal Air Maroc
had also recently inaugurated or
resumed services to the city.
Although many new aircraft tails
have been seen at the Austrian capital
in recent years, the flag carrier has
remained the strongest player by quite
Air Canada launched some way. A look around Terminal 3
daily flights to during a typically busy period usually
Toronto in April 2019 reveals dozens of Austrian aircraft
using its flagship painted in the carrier’s red and white
Boeing 787-9. colours, ranging in size from the De
Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 to

54 airports of the world // May-June 2020

Boeing’s 777. Combined with Lufthansa,
Eurowings and Swiss (all part of the
Lufthansa Group) they held more than
50% of Vienna’s market share in 2017.
Competition from Wizz Air,
Laudamotion and others means this is
likely to change as the market returns
to normal conditions. A recent
statement revealed that planned
reshuffling between Lufthansa Group
airlines, with Austrian concentrating on
the Vienna market (it was intended that
wet-leased Eurowings aircraft would
temporarily operate some flights) and
Eurowings focusing on smaller Austrian
airports, including Salzburg.
Further changes to Austrian’s network
are also likely in the longer term as it
replaces its Dash 8-400s with Airbus
A320s – a transition that had been
anticipated as soon as 2021. A number
of destinations that make commercial
sense for the turboprop probably won’t
work for the A320. Some markets are
therefore likely to lose frequencies
or see services cancelled altogether.
Domestic rotations have already been
under particular pressure. Service to Airport Statistics
Linz, the shortest domestic sector, has IATA code: VIE
already been replaced by a two-hour ICAO code: LOWW
rail service to Vienna's Airport train
Location: 48°06’39’’N/016°34’15’’E
station, for example, and with short
flights under increasing scrutiny in Elevation: 587ft/179m
general, similar routes to Salzburg, Runways: 11/29 - 3,500 x 45m (11,483 x 148ft)
Klagenfurt and Graz, among others, 16/34 - 3,600 x 45m (11,811 x 148ft)
may suffer a similar fate. Frequencies: Tower 119.4MHz
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Vienna
Approach 134.675MHz
was one of Europe’s fastest growing
facilities, handling more than 31 million Ground 121.6MHz
passengers last year. It remains to be Website: www.viennaairport.com
seen whether this massive growth will Passengers (2019): 31,662,189
continue in the wake of the coronavirus
crisis and amid fierce competition
between airlines. Nonetheless, Vienna
Airport’s variety of routes and
competitive prices have made it very
attractive for customers. And, when the
terminal upgrade and extension work is
complete, the travelling experience, no
matter which terminal is used, will
become even smoother from Austria's
only major gateway.
Copyright © 2020 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the
flight simulation community via www.navigraph.com.
(Not for airborne/operational use)
The COVID-19 crisis
has resulted in
Austrian Airlines
grounding its fleet.
AirTeamImages.com/
Chris Jilli
www.key.aero 55
Jakarta
Snapshot

Peter Apsey offers a fascinating photographic insight following his

recent trip to Soekarno–Hatta. The Jakarta hub is the perfect place to
capture some eyecatching and unusual liveries from across the region.
Recently transferred
to AirAsia’s
Indonesian arm,
Airbus A320, PK-AXU
(c/n 3549), was
painted in a special
‘Lombok’ scheme in
March of last year.

BELOW RIGHT: China

Airlines links Jakarta
with Taipei/Taoyuan.
At the time of the
author’s visit, the
firm's Airbus A350-
900, B-18901 (c/n
049), was spotted
sporting the Mikado
Pheasant livery.

BELOW: This
Rolls-Royce Trent
700-powered
A330-300, PK-GPR
(c/n 1446), was
delivered in 2013,
although its striking
SkyTeam livery
was only applied in
August of last year.

56 airports of the world // May-June 2020

ABOVE: Low-cost
carrier Citilink is
the subsidiary of
Garuda Indonesia
and comprises a
62-strong fleet,
including Airbus
A320ceo example,
PK-GLZ (c/n 6118).

ABOVE LEFT:
SriLankan Airlines
operates from
Jakarta’s Terminal
3 for onward
links to Colombo/
Bandaranaike. The
island’s flag carrier
now fields four Airbus
A321neo examples
including, 4R-ANF
(c/n 8106).

Originally delivered to
Continental Airlines
in August 1994, the
aircraft, PK-CLH
(c/n 27330) named
‘Kekuatan’ – which
translates as ‘Power’
– was acquired by
local firm Sriwijaya
Air in 2012.

Garuda Indonesia
celebrated its
heritage with a pair
of Boeing 737-800s
painted in a 1969
retro scheme. One
of the duo, PK-GFN
(c/n 38033), is shown
arriving back at its
home base.

www.key.aero 57
 Snapshot

Lion Air is one of only

a handful of carriers
with a Boeing 737
delivered from the
manufacturer in
hybrid 'Dreamliner'
colours. This Boeing
737-900, PK-LFF (c/n
35679), was handed
over in 2006.

While there
is continued
speculation that
Garuda Indonesia
plans to phase out
its Bombardier CRJ-
1000 fleet, 18 of the
jets currently remain
in service. The type –
including PK-GRR (c/n
19042) – is deployed
on domestic rotations
within Indonesia.

BELOW RIGHT: In
contrast to its parent
Lion Air, subsidiary
Batik Air operates a
predominantly Airbus
fleet, as illustrated by
PK-LAG (c/n 6280).

BELOW: Sriwijaya
Air subsidiary NAM
Air began operations
in 2013, feeding
domestic traffic into
Jakarta. It comprises
11 Boeing 737-500,
such as, PK-NAN (c/n
27901), in addition
to ATR 72-600
turboprops.

58 airports of the world // May-June 2020

ABOVE: Garuda
Indonesia’s Airbus
A330-300, PK-GPG
(c/n 165), seats 360 in
a single all-economy
class layout for many
high-density routes
across both Asia
and Australia.

ABOVE LEFT: Etihad

Airways promotes
its partnership with
Manchester City
football club with
this General Electric
GEnx-equipped
Boeing 787-9,
A6-BND (c/n 42373),
painted in the
team’s colours.

Thai Airways rosters

widebodies on
links to Bangkok/
Suvarnabhumi, such
as this 2012-built
Airbus A330-300,
HS-TBD (c/n 1338).

Jakarta-based Lion
Air’s narrowbody
fleet is all-Boeing,
comprising 111 737
examples, including
this -900 variant,
PK-LJZ (c/n 4128).

www.key.aero 59
FEATURE

COR

Argentin
Sebastian Schmitz travels to the Argentinian city
INA
CÓRDOBA, ARGENT of Córdoba to learn more about an airport that often
20
I8 90 50 6A O W 20 sits in the shadow of the country’s capital.

C
órdoba is located in the heart
of Argentina, a country more
than 11 times larger than the
United Kingdom and greater
than four times the size of France.
Argentina’s second-largest city after
the capital, Buenos Aires, Córdoba
More than 3.3m has around 1.3 million inhabitants yet,
passengers passed like every Argentine city, compared
through the with Buenos Aires it seems small and
Argentinian gateway provincial. The country is very Buenos
in 2018. Aires-focused, even though the capital
All photos author sits at Argentina’s eastern edge.
unless stated A pleasant city, Córdoba boasts a
Alternative G
number of colonial buildings at its centre
and is sufficiently attractive to make for a
few interesting days’ stay, without being
a major tourist destination. Nestling
between the lower slopes of the Andes
mountains and a large flat plain that
forms the South American country's
agricultural heartland. Córdoba has
also attracted an important industrial
presence: car manufacturers – including
the likes of Fiat and Volkswagen – and
their suppliers have plants in the city;
there’s a significant IT industry; and
the city is home to Argentina’s primary
aircraft manufacturer, Fábrica Argentina
de Aviones SA (FAdeA), which has
an airfield to the southwest of the
metropolis. Several universities provide
higher education for the local populace,
feeding graduates into the region’s
manufacturing, engineering and other
high-tech industries.
The history of Córdoba’s Ingeniero
Aeronáutico Ambrosio LV Taravella
International Airport (IATA: COR,
ICAO: SACO), named after a local
architect, dates back to the 1930s,
when a tiny airstrip was built north of

60 airports of the world // May-June 2020

tina's
e Gateway
the city centre. A basic facility, it was
quickly overwhelmed by a significant
increase in flights and a new airport
was built nearby. Over the years, its
infrastructure was improved more or
less in line with demand and Córdoba
became an important domestic hub,
although never coming close to
achieving the traffic levels of Buenos
Aires’ two major gateways. Since their
privatisation in the late 1990s, the
majority of Argentina’s airports have
been managed by operator Aeropuertos
Argentina 2000. Many have seen quite
Rio de Janeiro
Córdoba
Santiago Buenos Aires
substantial upgrade
and modernisation
programmes as a result,
work that for some is
ongoing. Córdoba is no
exception. In the last decade, its
terminal was totally refurbished and
extended, and equipped with jet bridges
for the first time. More apron space was
built to cope with growing demand and
the site's main runway was recently
resurfaced, while a new control tower
offers much improved views compared
with those of its predecessor.
w w w.key.aero 61
Looking rather
like a robot, the
new control tower Between 2007 and 2018,
was part of the
comprehensive
passenger numbers rose from
upgrade that the
Argentinian gateway
981,000 to more than 3.3 million...
has undergone over
the last 15 years.
Route Network
The bread-and-butter route
for most of the airlines
flying into Córdoba is
Buenos Aires, around
440 miles (710km) to
the southeast. The
journey takes seven or
eight hours by car and
usually between nine and
ten hours by bus. The flight
lasts around one hour,
with several airlines,
including Aerolíneas
Argentinas and LATAM,
plus low-cost carriers
such as newcomer
Flybondi and JetSMART,
serving the route. With low
fares often available, flying
between the cities is an
attractive option.
In 2018, more than 1.2
million passengers travelled
from Córdoba to Buenos
Aires’ Aeroparque Jorge
Newbery Airport, making it
Argentina’s most important
domestic connection. In
addition, several more daily
flights connect Córdoba to
the capital’s other two airports,
Ministro Pistarini International
Airport, also known as Buenos
Aires/Ezeiza Airport, and El Palomar,
giving the city pair even more
relevance. Meanwhile, the country’s
busiest route outside Buenos Aires
is between Córdoba and Mendoza.
It attracted approximately 177,000
passengers in 2018 and is served by
Aerolíneas Argentinas and Flybondi.
Most Buenos Aires-bound travellers
prefer flying to Aeroparque for its
proximity to the city centre, while more
price-conscious flyers often opt to fly
on the low-cost services landing at
El Palomar Airport, but Ezeiza Airport
has seen increased connectivity to
Córdoba in recent years. Not hugely
attractive for those heading to Buenos
Aires itself, since it is quite remote
from the city
centre, Ezeiza
nonetheless
offers easier
international
connections.
In the past,
62 airports of the world // May-June 2020
Aeroparque handled strictly domestic
services, while Ezeiza serviced
mostly international flights, obliging
passengers to transfer from one airport
to the other, a process sufficiently
tedious to make flying via São Paulo,
Lima or another South American
gateway more attractive.
Several Argentine and international
carriers served Córdoba Airport,
including PLUNA from Uruguay, and
Transbrasil and VARIG from Brazil, but
so did a number of less well-known
airlines – Aerochaco, Kaiken Lineas
Aéreas and CATA Línea Aérea among
them. Of the Argentine carriers, Ini
Airlines operated DC-6 propliners
from Buenos Aires via Córdoba to
Antofagasta in Chile, and via Lima and
Panama City to Miami during the 1960s.
Between 1996 and 2005, the airport
even had its own airline based there;
Southern Winds. It established a
small hub in Córdoba, pretty much
pioneering the concept employed more
recently by Aerolíneas Argentinas,
connecting cities in northern and
southern Argentina without the
detour through Buenos Aires. Initially
operating Canadair Regional Jets and
DHC-8s, the carrier later upgraded to
Boeing 737-200s and even operated
a Boeing 747-200, although largely on
international flights from Buenos Aires.
Three of the carrier’s 737-200s still
remain stored at Córdoba.
The Córdoba Hub
The hub of Argentina’s economy,
politics and culture, Buenos Aires is
also the centre of its airline routes. All
Argentine airline route maps show
multiple services to Buenos Aires and
few direct flights between other cities.
Based on long-established tradition,
this route planning makes little
geographical sense. Flying from Salta,
in northwest Argentina, to Bariloche in
the western part of central Argentina,
via Buenos Aires in the east, imposes
a considerable detour, for example.
Thanks to its central location, Córdoba
makes the more logical domestic hub
and, in 2017, Aerolíneas Argentinas,
although very focused on Buenos Aires,
acknowledged this by establishing a
regional base at the airport.
Every morning, up to six Boeing 737s
or Embraer E190s serving Aerolíneas
 LEFT: Some aircraft
use remote parking
stands so passengers
are taken the short
distance to the
terminal by bus.

Argentinas or its partner airline

Austral, arrive from cities in northern
Argentina, including Salta, Iguazú,
Tucumán and Resistencia. Later, with
an average connecting time of 40
minutes for passengers, they depart
to cities further south, among them
Bariloche, Neuquén, Mar del Plata and
even Ushuaia, at the southern tip of
Argentina. In the late afternoon, the
whole programme takes place again,
but in reverse.
Time savings over a connection
through Buenos Aires are between
one and two hours for most of these
city pairs and the Córdoba hub was
an immediate success for both the
airport and Aerolíneas Argentinas; ABOVE: A LATAM
two years after launch, the facility Boeing 767-300
moves around 500,000 passengers touches down on
per year. Typically for a hub, traffic Runway 01 operating
from other cities makes further routes the weekly Sao
Paulo-Córdoba-Port
from Córdoba sustainable, resulting in
Stanley link.
new routes and higher frequencies on
Photo Seba Borsero
existing services. Alongside the flag
carrier, JetSMART’s new Argentine LEFT: Chilean firm
branch and Flybondi operate to Salta, JetSMART recently
Neuquén and Bariloche from Córdoba, bought Norwegian’s
as well as Buenos Aires, their low fares Argentine arm.
stimulating traffic significantly. Following the
acquisition both its
International Service brand and Boeing
There remains capacity for growth in 737-800s will
international routes out of Córdoba, but gradually disappear.
airlines sometimes struggle to make LEFT: Three former
services profitable. American Airlines Southern Winds
launched a return between the city and Boeing 737-200s are
Miami in June 2018, flown by Boeing stored at the complex
767-300s. However, in autumn 2019 in deteriorating
it announced the route’s cancellation condition following
after less than 12 months. the Córdoba-based
firm’s collapse.

LEFT: Boeing
737-700, LV-CAD
(c/n 32680), flew
with now-defunct
carrier SkyEurope
in Slovakia before
joining Aerolineas
Argentinas in 2009.

w w w.key.aero 63
 The country's busiest
route outside the
capital is between
Córdoba and Mendoza

ABOVE: From May, it Instead, American concentrated its Spanish carrier, Air Europa, took up the discontinue flights or reduce frequencies
has been confirmed Argentina service in Buenos Aires, reins, flying to Córdoba as a tag-on to its into secondary markets, including
American Airlines where it usually offers multiple daily existing route from Madrid to Paraguay’s Córdoba, before reducing service on
is to withdraw its flights to its hubs in New York, Los capital, Asunción. This combination, their primary routes into the country.
operations from the Angeles, Miami and Dallas/Fort along with full traffic rights on the More positively, Córdoba offers a
Argentine facility. Worth. With the loss of this prestigious Córdoba-Asunción sector, where Air number of regional connections to South
Photo Andrés Lavallén route, Córdoba no longer has direct Europa is the only carrier, seems to work America’s primary hubs. There are daily
MAIN IMAGE: Opened flights to the US. well. A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operates and sometimes twice daily flights to
in 2006, the terminal Previously, Iberia launched Córdoba’s the service five times weekly. Santiago de Chile and Lima (Peru), while
building is currently first non-stop service to Europe, in 2010. Argentina’s many economic crises have LATAM operates Airbus A320s on three
satisfactory for the Serving the city three times weekly with also affected its commercial air routes flights per week to São Paulo. Excellent
level of demand the an Airbus A340 from Madrid, the route and with services into Buenos Aires onward connections are available from
airport handles. closed in 2012. Subsequently, another dominating the market, airlines tend to all three destinations. Brazil’s GOL serves

64 airports of the world // May-June 2020

 Airport Statistics
IATA code: COR
ICAO code: SACO
Location: 31° 18’ 36’’S/064° 12’ 30’’W
Elevation: 1,604ft (489m)
Runways: 01/19 3,200 x 45m (10,499 x 148ft)
05/23 7,218 x 148ft (2,200 x 45m)
Frequencies: Grd: 121.75MHz
Twr: 118.3MHz
Website: www.aa2000.com.ar/cordoba
Passengers (2018): 3,387,123
Air Europa Boeing 787-8, EC-MIH (c/n 36413), is seen
here operating one of five weekly flights to Madrid.
Andrés Lavallén

Rio de Janeiro six times a week, while
Azul offers a weekly flight to Recife. Copa
Airlines’ daily flight to Panama City is
another important hub connection. But
perhaps the most interesting regional
service from Córdoba departs once
every four weeks: in November 2019,
LATAM launched weekly rotations from
São Paulo in Brazil to Port Stanley on
the Falkland Islands (or Islas Malvinas,
to Argentinians) and once each month,
the flight stops in Córdoba, as the only
direct flight between Argentina and the
Falklands. Service is provided
by either an A320 or
Boeing 767.
Having been reasonably aggressive
in developing Córdoba as a domestic
hub, Aerolíneas Argentinas could offer
more international flights. It serves
only Brazil from Argentina’s second
city, with four flights a week to Rio de
Janeiro and one or two weekly flights
each, depending on destination and,
in some cases, season, to the coastal
cities of Salvador, Porto Seguro and
Florianopolis, all of them popular with
Argentine holidaymakers.
The Experience
Most routes into Córdoba employ
Airbus A320/Boeing 737-sized
aircraft or smaller Embraer E190s,
which usually use the airport’s
four jet bridges. Flights
occasionally
use
Copyright © 2020 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the
flight simulation community via Navigraph Charts, https://www.navigraph.com.
(Not for airborne/operational use)
remote parking stands, necessitating a TOP: JetSMART
short bus ride to or from the terminal. and its Argentinian
The terminal is configured for a flexible subsidiary have a
division between the international and variety of South
domestic concourses. Dividers may American animals
be opened and closed, adjusting the displayed on
area of each according to demand. The their aircraft tails.
domestic area is increased later in the AirTeamImages.com/
morning and similarly in the afternoon, Simon Willson
for example, when Aerolíneas
Argentinas’ two waves of regional
services means there are five or six

w w w.key.aero 65
ABOVE: Córdoba is flights on the ground simultaneously. of check-in counters allocated to
the busiest gateway The terminal’s main hall comprises airlines as needed.
in the country outside two floors. Passengers enter at ground Passengers proceed to the gate
of Argentina's capital level, where a large restaurant and through a short concourse, at the
Buenos Aires. units for familiar services – including end of which they are directed to the
car rental agencies, banks and a tourist right for domestic departures or left
information office – share the space. for international flights, and where
One floor up, the departure hall boasts they undergo security inspection and,
two smaller restaurants/cafés and small if necessary, passport and customs
shops, as well as a long row control. The departure lounge is not
large and when several flights depart
close together, the space can feel a
little snug, although its compact size
has the advantage of making the walk
between connecting flights extremely
short. Airside, there are a few shops,
a café, a small fashion boutique and a
duty free store.
Planning Ahead
In its current form, the terminal is only
a few years old, yet plans are well under
way for its expansion. The existing
building will be enlarged towards
the north, on to ground occupied by
ABOVE: Created
by Córdoba artist
Antonio Seguí, this
sculpture is called
‘Voy Volando’ or ‘I’m
going flying’.
66 airports of the world // May-June 2020
easily relocated warehouses, roughly
doubling its capacity. Meanwhile,
the airport’s main runway, 18/36, has
been resurfaced. The shorter runway
05/23 was used during its closure;
long enough, at 2,200m (7,218ft) for
domestic and regional flights, its limited
expanse meant restrictions for aircraft
flying longer international routes. Now
back in use, runway 18/36 is 3,200m
(10,499ft) long and capable of handling
aircraft of all sizes. Córdoba receives
occasional diversions from Buenos
Aires, especially during the winter,
including passenger widebodies
and cargo jets.
The main runway lacks a full-length
parallel taxiway, an omission scheduled
for rectification. Once built, it will
enable aircraft to avoid backtracking
after landing or before take-off, adding
significant runway capacity. Airport
manager Fernando Ordoñez is also
a former Fuerza Aérea Argentina
(Argentinian Air Force) Lockheed

C-130 Hercules captain. He expected
the terminal expansion and taxiway
construction to begin in 2020 and
be completed by 2022, although the
effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on
that timeline remain to be seen.
Argentina is typical insofar as
politics play an important role in its
major construction projects. Recent
governments have been friendly
towards businesses, including its low-
cost carriers, but late 2019 saw the
election of a new leadership, which
may have a different focus. Ordoñez
is optimistic that the airport projects
will proceed as planned, since the
additional capacity is clearly needed.
Apart from extra terminal space
and the taxiway for runway 18/36,
plans are also in hand for the full
implementation of category III
instrument landing system (ILS)
approach aids for both ends of runway
18/36 and the construction of a new
emergency and fire services’ building.
LEFT: The modern and
spacious departure hall
with check-in counters
for both domestic and
international flights.
LEFT MIDDLE: The
Moka&Deli café
located in the
departure lounge can
get quite busy when
several flights depart
at a similar time.
Córdoba, like so many airports in the domestic market, and their
operating in the shadow of a dominant continued growth is likely as the region
facility, has struggled to position itself eventually returns to a new normality.
as an alternative gateway. Taking this into account and factoring
The recent cessation of JetSMART in the plan for infrastructure MAIN IMAGE: Austral
and Sky Airline services to Chile, and improvement through the expanded operates Embraer
the cancellation of American Airline’s terminal building and parallel taxiway, E190s exclusively
flights to Miami, show that airlines are Córdoba Ingeniero Aeronáutico on behalf of the
willing to try an alternative to Buenos Ambrosio LV Taravella International country’s flag carrier
Aires, but more long-term success is far Airport seems likely to have a bright on thinner routes.
from certain. and exciting future.
International setbacks aside, Córdoba
has still achieved impressive growth.
Between 2007 and 2018, passenger
numbers rose from 981,143 to 3,387,123,
with a new record expected for 2019.
International and domestic numbers
have been increasing rapidly, with
domestic flights accounting for more
than 70% of Córdoba’s total traffic
output – 2,422,285 passengers in 2018.
The COVID-19 outbreak has generated
a level of unprecedented uncertainty,
but the low-cost airlines have been
responsible for most of the expansion
w w w.key.aero 67
 UK
Visitors

While we usually request that you send images of anything out of

the ordinary that you have seen while on your travels, the
Airports of the World team implore you to follow the government’s
advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visiting an airport to
photograph aircraft does not constitute ‘essential travel’
and we will not be publishing any images taken
during the ‘lockdown’ period.
Owing to the coronavirus crisis, we’re expecting a greatly reduced
number of visitors to UK airports before we go to press with the July/
August issue, but we would like you to send in any images you took
of rare and usual aircraft at a UK airport before the lockdown.
Photos can be sent via email only to aow@keypublishing.com.
Please ensure you provide details with the images, especially the
date, location, airline names and aircraft identity.

Manchester

ABOVE: Aegean Airlines
unveiled a new livery to
coincide with the arrival of
its first Airbus A320neo. The
airline’s third Pratt & Whitney
PW1100-powered example,
SX-NEB (c/n 9514), made its first
visit to Manchester on March 7.
Spencer Bennett
Doncaster/Sheffield
LEFT: Qatar Airways Boeing
East Midlands 747-8F, A7-BGA (c/n 37564),
visited East Midlands Airport on
March 2 to collect equipment
for the Australian Grand Prix,
that had been scheduled for
March 15. The race – the first
of the 2020 season – was
cancelled with just two days’
notice owing to the global
COVID-19 pandemic. Karl Nixon

RIGHT: Great Dane Airlines is

set to increase its Embraer
Exeter
E195 fleet from three to five in
the coming months. Former
Flybe example, G-FBEK (c/n
19000168), is set to become
OY-GDD with the Danish
carrier. It has the distinction of
having operated the final Flybe
E195 rotation, from Edinburgh
to Birmingham on February 24.
Ian Simpson

Elstree LEFT: The Israeli Air Force

has operated 24 Beech A36
Bonanzas since 2004. Five
examples of the Continental
IO-550-powered six-seater,
known as the ‘Chofit’ in Israeli
service, were sold to US-based
CL Holdings in December.
Three – N336EU (c/n E-3609),
N436EU (c/n E-3612) and
N536EU (c/n 3616) – arrived at
Elstree Aerodrome on February
26. While the first two remain
at the Berkshire Airfield,
N536EU departed to Little
Gransden, Cambridgeshire on
March 17. Chris Globe

68 airports of the world // May-June 2020

 UKVisitors
ABOVE: Private jets have long
Birmingham been used to ferry the rich and
famous from one end of the
planet to the other in luxury and
complete anonymity – unless
you’re Floyd Mayweather, that
is. The former boxer used this
Gulfstream G-IVSP, N151SD (c/n
1249), to shuttle him around
various stops on his Legendary
Icon Tour.
V1images.com/Jason Nicholls

LEFT: Kalitta Air Boeing

Doncaster/Sheffield
747-400F, N705CK (c/n
26413), returned 140 British
passengers from the COVID-
19-stricken cruise ship, Grand
Princess, which had been
anchored off the coast of San
Francisco before docking at
nearby Oakland Harbour on
March 10. The jet delivered
them to Birmingham the next
day and several hours later
departed for Kiev/Boryspil.
v1images.com/George Aldrich

As demand for air travel drops

because of the COVID-19
pandemic, airlines are storing
their aircraft anywhere and
everywhere. Virgin Atlantic
has parked a trio of its Airbus
A330-200s, including G-VWND
(c/n 476) at the Yorkshire hub.
Glenn Beasley

www.key.aero 69
 UK
Visitors

Sky Gates Airlines Boeing

747-400F, VP-BCI (c/n 32571)
flew into Doncaster/Sheffield
from Frankfurt/Hahn on March
23. The aircraft was on the
ground for two hours before
it departed bound for Baku/
Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan.
The jumbo has just celebrated
its 19th birthday having entered
service with Cathay Pacific on
April 18, 2001. William Travis

BELOW: Vietnam Airlines

deployed a Boeing 787-10,
VN-A872 (c/n 60294), on its
Hanoi-London/Heathrow link
on March 22. It was the first
time one of the carrier’s largest
jets has visited the UK. Doncaster
James Ronayne

London/Heathrow

East Midlands ACE Belgium Freighters Boeing

747-400F, OO-ACE (c/n 24227)
visited East Midlands on March
23. The 29-year-old aircraft,
which came in from New
York/JFK, is part of a growing
number of supplementary
cargo flights at the facility
which have been laid on due to
a drop in transatlantic flights
and consequent reduction
in belly freight capacity. Two
additional 767s visited from
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
and JFK on March 21.
John Gregory

Bristol

A private Honda HA-420

HondaJet, registered N25HJ
(c/n 42000024), visited Bristol
on March 16. The very light jet
arrived from Cannes/Mandelieu
after a two-hour flight.
Ian Simpson

70 airports of the world // May-June 2020

Having previously taken
examples of the Airbus
Newcastle
narrowbody from wet lease
specialists, including Titan
Airways, to increase summer
capacity, Jet2.com received the
first of seven former Thomas
Cook Group A321s on lease
from Avolon on February 3.
AirTeamImages.com/Ian Tate

Former Mobil Nigeria de

Havilland Canada DHC-6-300,
Cardiff
C-GPIW (c/n 552), passed
through Cardiff on delivery to
Calgary-based Ashe Aircraft
Enterprises. The Twin Otter,
previously 5N-MPU, arrived
from Palma de Mallorca on
March 1 and later departed to
Keflavík in Iceland.
Matthew Blunt

Bournemouth

NordStar Airlines is due to

take former Norwegian Air
Shuttle Boeing 737-800,
LN-NIA (c/n 39444), on lease
from Avolon. The jet was
repainted at Airbourne Colours’
Bournemouth facility and will
become VQ-BDX with the
Russian carrier.
George McDowell/Aeromedia

Glasgow

US Army MC-12W Liberty,

08-00329 (c/n FL-329), arrived
at Glasgow Airport on March
4 with the callsign ELVIS18.
The aircraft continued its
journey across the Atlantic
on the morning of March 8.
AirTeamImages.com/Rolf Jonsen

www.key.aero 71
FEATURE

ADL Once viewed as a 1950s backwater, Adelaide is now one of

ADELAIDE, SA
I8 90 50 6A O W 20
20 Australia’s major international air hubs. Chris Frame travelled
there to find out how a fresh airport terminal is helping the

Adelaide
facility look to the 21st century and beyond...

A Gateway to the Future

W
hen the Australian city
of Adelaide’s AU$260m
(£130m) purpose-built
and integrated airport
terminal opened in 2005 it offered a
stark contrast to its dated predecessor.
Designed as a single user terminal,
today it operates a swing-gate
system and facilitates domestic and
international flights from one building.
It incorporates wide access ways,
spacious departure gates, and a bright
and airy retail and dining precinct, as
well as offering stunning views of the
Adelaide Airport runway and apron.
is the fifth busiest Fifteen years on, the airport’s
gateway in Australia. terminal facilities and 20-year design
All Photos Author envelope have been outpaced by
Unless Stated higher than expected airline growth.

72 airports of the world // May-June 2020

 Nine international carriers now offer LEFT: The facility
overseas connections between handled 8.5m
Adelaide and destinations including passengers in 2018.
Singapore/Changi, Dubai/International
and Hong Kong/Chek Lap Kok.
In 2018, construction began on a
large-scale redevelopment to satisfy
increasing customer expectations.
Retail and dining options were
enhanced, along with investment in
infrastructure to help improve the site's
flight punctuality.
A team of more than 200 builders
are due to work on construction of
the terminal which is scheduled for
completion next year. An estimated
630 additional jobs will be created
as new retail and dining options
come online. Phase one of the
project opened on February 26,
with passengers benefitting from
the updated facilities while getting a
glimpse of the ongoing work which
should be finished late next year.

Nine international
carriers now offer
overseas connections
Brisbane between Adelaide and
destinations including
Perth Singapore/Changi,
Adelaide Sydney Dubai/International
Melbourne
Canberra and Hong Kong/
Chek Lap Kok.

w w w.key.aero 73
From end-to-end, the
terminal is 2,790ft
in length with 14
contact gates.
The Qantas Club
offers travellers a bar
service, showers and
meeting rooms.
Down Under
Australia was an early adopter of
aviation services due to the vast
distances separating urban and rural
communities across the continent.
Aircraft offered numerous benefits over
land vehicles, avoiding the relatively
poor long-distance road systems of the
early 20th century.
As South Australia’s capital, Adelaide
was at the forefront of the country’s
aviation industry with the city being
the main business hub for a state that
covers more than 379,000sq miles
The South Australian (983,000km2) – around twice the size
facility is 3.5 miles of Spain. The city’s first purpose-built
from the city's central aerodrome was established in the
business district. nearby suburb of Hendon in 1920. Set
74 airports of the world // May-June 2020
on a 59-acre (24ha) plot, it offered
enough space for a modest runway and
hangars that could support the biplanes
of the era. South Australia’s first
aerial mail service was launched from
here, linking Adelaide with Sydney,
before later connecting the region
with the other state capitals, including
Melbourne in Victoria.
As airline services took off across
the country, demand for access to the
Hendon site grew at a rate that the
airfield could not accommodate. In
1927, the problem was alleviated by a
new facility in neighbouring Parafield.
Australian aviation pioneer Horrie
Miller inaugurated flight services when
landing at the site on October 1, 1927.
By the late 1940s, passenger demand
was outstripping the terminal’s facilities.
With airlines contemplating larger
piston-driven types, Adelaide needed
an airport that could accommodate
them. By 1947, it was decided to
establish a new facility in the coastal
suburb of West Beach. Flights would
depart and arrive over the ocean
– which suited the surrounding
residential communities – while
business travellers got easier access
to Adelaide’s central business district
(CBD). Seven years later, construction
of the new facility had progressed to
a stage where it could accept aircraft,
although the official opening occurred
the following year.
By 1957, a new terminal was opened
to cater for increasing passenger
numbers. Although envisaged as a
short-term solution, the relatively basic
building remained in service until
2005. Despite numerous upgrades,
the building had well and truly passed
the intended capabilities of its
original design.
In addition to surging domestic
demand, direct international services
started in Adelaide from 1982. These
were handled in a separate, albeit
modest, international terminal building
which also remained in service
until 2005.
Ahead of the Curve
It was obvious that the West Beach
facility was insufficient for the needs of
the 21st century traveller. In comparison
to the country’s other major gateways,
the terminals suffered from limited
space, small airline lounges, no
airbridges and an overcrowded aircraft
parking system.
A completely new Adelaide terminal
was proposed in 2005 to improve the
customer experience. Design plans ABOVE: Adelaide’s
mooted a large, modern and spacious glass-fronted
interior with high ceilings and large jetbridges give
glass frontages to enhance the sense passengers excellent
of space. The glass-fronted layout was views of the apron
during boarding.
carried through to the 14 airbridges,
which provided glass walls that gave LEFT: QantasLink
unimpeded views of the ramp for those operates 49 De
embarking and disembarking. Havilland Canada
To futureproof the facility, international Dash 8s including,
and domestic services were VH-SBW (c/n 599).
incorporated under one roof. With a
passenger traffic flow system based BELOW: Virgin
on a swing-gate design, boarding Australia fields a fleet
areas in the central concourse could of 79 Boeing 737NGs
be annexed for international flights, including, VH-YIW
then revert to domestic use as demand (c/n 40700), named
dictated. It simplified onward travel Mona Vale Beach.

w w w.key.aero 75
Travellers are offered connections for customers transferring
a wide variety of food from domestic to international flights
and drink options. and vice versa, as well as allowing for
Adelaide Airport further international airline growth.
Another perk of the multi-user
approach was to allow international
airlines to utilise domestic partner
lounges. The Qantas Club lounge
at Adelaide serves not only the flag
carrier’s domestic rotations, but
also Emirates and the Australian
Ongoing upgrades flag carrier's oneworld partners
are emphasised Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines and
for a customer-first Cathay Pacific.
approach that will The nation’s second-largest airline,
benefit passengers.
Virgin Australia, initially occupied a
Adelaide Airport
smaller lounge at the new terminal
for travellers on its domestic and
international rotations, before it
was temporarily relocated during
construction work. Additionally,
Regional Express Airlines (Rex) has
a smaller lounge near its dedicated
departure gate on the eastern end
of the concourse. Singapore Airlines
opened a modest facility in the
international zone only for customers
who passed through immigration.
Other shared outlets include a retail
precinct and dining venues, as well
as viewing areas, public bathrooms,
phone-charging stations and Wi-Fi.
For those holding international
boarding passes, pre-flight dwell time

76 airports of the world // May-June 2020

 Alliance Airlines
deploys Fokkers
to the facility. One
example, a Fokker
100, VH-XWP (c/n
11281), is more
than 30 years old.
AirTeamImages.com/
Weimeng

can be spent in the main domestic Regional Express

concourse before transiting through
immigration for boarding and
departure. Proudly referred to as
Terminal 1 (T1), the name indirectly
emphasises the ‘one terminal’ solution.
A Sense of Place
While T1 was built for longevity, the
planned 20-year design became, in
some respects, a victim of its own
success. The terminal’s modern
and pleasant travel experience,
coupled with a boom in international
tourism, led to more international
carriers inaugurating flights to the
South Australian capital. By 2018,
management at Adelaide realised
the in-terminal amenities required
a revamp to continue exceeding
customer expectations.
Adelaide Airport’s managing director
Mark Young spoke with Airports of the
World in February. Commenting on
the impact that the development is set
to bring, he said: “Adelaide Airport’s
Airlines (Rex)
operates Saab 340s
from Adelaide on
rotations to small
regional airfields.
AvStock.net/
James Rowson
terminal expansion will create more Australia lounge and office suites will
retail and dining options, and will see a be relocated.
complete refurbishment of retail areas, Careful planning was necessary
resulting in a higher than 80% increase to ensure existing airline services,
in the overall size of the terminal’s retail as Young explained: “The planning
and dining precinct across domestic has been very complex. We’ve A Qantas Boeing
and international areas.” adopted a staged approach to the 737-800, VH-VZT
As a result, the entire retail area project to ensure minimal disruption (c/n 34186), is
will be replaced and revitalised, and to our customers and our tenants. prepared ahead of
certain key services such as the Virgin For example, several tenants are its next flight.

w w w.key.aero 77

The Thomas Cooper transferring from the old Aviation
Bar (also known as House [office precinct at the airport]
Coopers Alehouse) to new offices on Level 1 [T1]. Once
serves passengers that move is completed, we can then
locally-produced demolish Aviation House and start the
specialities in T1. next stage of construction.”
Adelaide Airport Additionally, management has
installed a number of ‘pop-up’ stores to
create valuable retail space for tenants
who have had to close their main
stores during construction. In total, the
redevelopment will expand Adelaide’s
footprint by 177,000sq ft (16,500m2),
of which some 775sq ft (7,200m2) is
for new retail and dining options. This
zone is located east of the previous
retail area and incorporates a stylish
new wine bar and restaurant managed
by South Australian wine producer
Penfolds. Further links with the region
can be found at Precinct Adelaide
Kitchen, which sports an aesthetic
inspired by the popular laneway bars
and restaurants for which the city has
become famous, as well as nationally
recognised retailers from pharmacy
services to juice bars.
Phase two plans are set to include
locally inspired food and drink outlets.
Renowned Australian chef Maggie
Beer is to open a premium dining
restaurant named Maggie Beer Kitchen.
In addition, Poh Ling Yeow is to open
Jamface, a store selling local sweet
and savoury products, while Callum
Hann will debut The Pantry View, which
focuses on locally sourced artisan
produce – Yeow and Hann were both
runners-up in the Australian version of
MasterChef. And locally based Coopers
Brewery is to offer travellers its famous
Pale and Sparkling Ale drinks from a
pop-up bar.
The new building will also celebrate
South Australian history and heritage.
The airport already owns the Vickers
Vimy flown by Adelaide-born siblings
and aviation pioneers Sir Keith Smith
and Sir Ross Smith, who completed
the iconic London to Australia air race
in 1919. There are plans for the historic
aircraft to be moved from a building
near to T1 and displayed in an exhibition
area inside the terminal by the end of

Changes Underfoot
Adelaide Airport’s 1947-2005
domestic terminal was often the
subject of negative customer
feedback due to its small size and
dated design. The carpeting was
also a source of amusement to
travellers. During the 1980s and
1990s, Australia’s two main domestic
airlines – Ansett and Australian
Airlines – attempted to distinguish
themselves at Adelaide by decorating
their areas of the terminal with their
respective signage, wall coverings
and furniture. Each firm also fitted
branded carpeting that created a
rigid demarcation line between the
Ansett and Australian Airlines sides
of the concourse.

78 airports of the world // May-June 2020


next year. By increasing its visibility and
accessibility to younger generations
and tourists, Young has stated the
move is set to “deliver a real sense of
place for passengers.”
Services Supercharge
With growth of international passenger
traffic being a key catalyst for change,
Young discussed the priorities required
to ensure completion of Phase Two
by 2021: “International upgrades will
include a second, longer baggage belt
for arrivals, more space for emigration
and immigration processing, expanded
security screening and a larger duty-free
precinct for arrivals and departures”.
While the utilisation of the successful
LEFT: Adelaide has
Horrie Miller received the occasional
Airbus A380. Illustrated
As an early adopter of aviation services, is the first-ever visit by
Australia is home to many airline pioneers. the type on September
Horrie Miller is notable for being a co-founder of 27, 2008.
Wikimedia Commons/
MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA), which was
shaz91
later absorbed into Ansett Australia. In addition
to inaugurating flights to Adelaide/Parafield,
Miller also forged flights to Western Australia,
leading to one of the roads at Perth Airport
being named in his honour: Horrie Miller Drive.
LEFT: Australian
aviation pioneer
Horrie Miller has an
airport road named in
his honour.
Wikimedia Commons/
National Library of
Australia
swing-gate operation continues,
a single departure lounge and
airbridge – Gate 18 – is to become
permanently dedicated to international
flights, marking a first for T1. Gate 18
occupies a central location within the BELOW: Qantas
international zone and, according to celebrates its
Young, will become “the focus of the centenary this
improved retail and boarding facilities. coming November.
w w w.key.aero 79
 Runways
Close to 300 daily aircraft movements are
handled by two runways at Adelaide Airport.
The main example is designated 05/23, with
a length of 10,170ft (3,100m) and a 147ft (45m)
ABOVE: Australian
flag carrier width. It can accommodate the Airbus A380,
Qantas flies to which has landed at the airfield largely due to
eight domestic medical diversions.
destinations from A second runway, 12/30 – referred to as
Adelaide Airport. the cross runway – is 5,413ft (1652m) and
designed to handle up to ICAO Code D
aircraft with wingspans between 118ft
to 170ft (36m to 52m). This is generally
utilised by narrowbodies and regional
aircraft, but widebody traffic can land when
RIGHT: Baggage meteorological conditions permit.
belts are set to be A curfew is in place, limiting aircraft
expanded following
movements between 11pm and 6am.
upgrades to
international arrivals.

Our aim is to provide a seamless,
connected experience from the time
you drive into the airport until you
board your aircraft, and vice versa.
There has been significant planning
and years of discussions with our key
partners – including airlines, retailers
and regulatory agencies – to get to
this point.”
Virgin Australia is to supercharge its
lounge facility as part of the terminal
update. The lounge formerly sat in the
centre of what was designated as the
terminal’s new expansion zone, so
was flagged for closure from the start.
Currently occupying a temporary space
adjacent to the new retail and dining
precinct, the new lounge is on track to
open by April. Set to be far larger than
its predecessor, this has given Virgin
Australia the opportunity to introduce a
new state-of -the-art lounge concept.
Following customer feedback, its
domestic lounge offering has been
described as “cramped” and lacking
individuality. Many of the carrier’s
domestic lounges feature the same
visual design, so the Adelaide concept
is aiming to create a fresh and exclusive
look not found elsewhere across the
Australian continent.
The airport will not only feature an
improved Virgin product, but also a
new multi-user premium lounge. With
an operator to be selected later this
year, it will be a welcome addition for

80 airports of the world // May-June 2020

 Airport Statistics
IATA code: ADL
ICAO code: YPAD
Location: 34°92’85’’S / 138°60’07’’E
Elevation: 20ft/6m
Runways: 05/23 10,170ft x 147ft (3,100m x 45m
12/30 5,413ft x 147ft (1652m x 45m)
Frequencies: Twr: 120.5 MHz
Grd: 121.7 MHz
App: 118.2 MHz, 130.45 MHz, 123.05 MHz,
128.6 MHz, 124.2 MHz
Clear Del: 126.1 MHz
Website: www.adelaideairport.com.au
Passengers (2018 or 19) 8,527,000

Copyright © 2020 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the
flight simulation community via Navigraph Charts, https://www.navigraph.com.
(Not for airborne/operational use)

passengers travelling internationally markets. We're working closely with operations and general transport
who cannot access existing lounges exporters to develop a dedicated related uses.”
operated by Qantas, Singapore and transport, logistics and freight precinct Adelaide Airport’s ongoing
their partners. on [the] airport, [along with a] dedicated transformation has shaken off any
freight entrance. This precinct presents connotations of its former outdated and Jetstar Airbus A321,
Looking Ahead a logical expansion to consolidate [the overcrowded predecessors. This will VH-VWT (3717), takes
While the South Australian economy already] existing freight operations, ensure that the facility will remain firmly off from Adelaide.
is expected to gain AU$167m (£84m) adjoining off-airport industrial ahead of the curve in the world of Airteamimages.com/
from the gateway, the airport managers warehouse, distribution and logistics Australian aviation. Rolf Jonsen
are already looking even further into
the future, focusing on international
expansion. Young said: “[We are]
in discussions with a number of
international carriers about attracting
new services to new destinations,
including US carriers that offer a direct
service with the US West Coast.”
He also noted that Adelaide is
exploring several untapped markets:
“Attracting direct links with new Asian
destinations such as Japan, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and India,
to name just a few.”
The complex is also looking to increase
freight capability, with plans to “build
and facilitate the necessary freight
infrastructure to assist our exporters in
getting their products to international

w w w.key.aero 81
 Next
Issue The July/August issue of Airports of the World includes:

COVID-19: On sale
Airport Impact
We’ll have expert analysis from
June 25*
around the world as airports *Subject to change
continue to grapple with the due to local COVID-19
biggest crisis in the history restrictions
of commercial aviation. From
regional gateways to global
mega-hubs, don’t miss our insight
into this developing story.

Japan’s Island
Wonders
Although Tokyo 2020 has been
postponed, you can rely on
Airports of the World for your
Japanese fix! Join us as we
travel to Amakusa and Goto,
both located west of Kyushu, the
southernmost of Japan´s four main
islands, to learn more about their
fascinating aviation operations.

A Clearer Future
Efficient CT screening at airports
is essential to maximise security
and minimise queuing. In this
special feature, we assess the
existing role of the technology,
before examining the need to
create open platform systems

PLUS
for the future.

All the latest

news and
much
more…

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All rights reserved. App prices subject to change. After three years, you will be prompted to update your details to renew your subscription.

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 Solutions and services Discover our fuel
and service solutions

for your World. fuelsolutions@wfscorp.com

wfscorp.com/aviation

From reliable delivery of fuel to faster payments with card programs and payment processing,
to providing state of the art trip support to global aircraft, World Fuel Services has the breadth
to work as a true partner by developing solutions created specifically for you.

Whether we’re helping customers meet operational performance goals, or investing in facilities
to help drive growth, we’re able to deliver the bespoke solutions you need in your World.

Contact us, and meet the fuel solutions provider who understands your World.

Fuel | Trip Support | Card and Reward Programs | Logistics | Technology | Technical Services

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