Industry groups have welcomed Adelaide Airport’s 30-year vision to boost air services to the South Australian capital and create a globally connected Airport Business District as part of a $2 billion development.
The plan includes tripling the size of Adelaide’s existing domestic and international terminals – including boosting the number of aerobridges from 15 to 52 by 2044 – a new 200-room hotel and several office buildings on the 785-hectare site.
Adelaide Airport chief executive Mark Young said the 30-year plan was the next big phase in the airport’s growth and development and aviation was a vital catalyst for economic growth.
“We want to be a top-tier airport business centre in the Asia Pacific, and to do this we need to set ambitious targets and invest in future infrastructure,” Young said in a statement.
“The Airport Business District will be a globally-connected, next-generation hub, with designated industry clusters that will allow employment and the environment to get top priority in an easy, connected and seamless manner.
“Some of the industries already established or looking to grow at Adelaide Airport include mining and resources, freight and logistics, technology, office and warehousing, healthcare, government enterprises and emergency services.”
Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) chief executive Margy Osmond said the Airport Business District would solidify Adelaide Airport’s position as South Australia’s most important employment generator.
“Adelaide Airport directly contributes $2 billion to the state economy and the effect of tourism is even larger, with some $6.5 billion contributed to the gross state product from tourism related activities,” Osmond said in a statement.
“The airport has set itself a new benchmark to outperform similar sized airports across Asia Pacific, rather than across Australia. This cements Adelaide Airport’s reputation as a pioneer it forged with the first integrated domestic and international terminal in Australia in 2005”.
There were no plans to alter the airport’s 11pm to 6am curfew.
Economic Development Board of South Australia chairman Raymond Spencer welcomed the plan.
“I applaud Adelaide Airport for its bold vision and its strong commitment to South Australia as demonstrated by its willingness to invest in the infrastructure so badly needed in this state,” Spencer told The Adelaide Advertiser newspaper on October 24.
