Launceston Airport (LST, YMLT), Tasmania, Australia

Launceston Airport is an Australian domestic regional airport, which is situated 15km from the town of Launceston near Western Junction in Tasmania. The two major airports in Tasmania with more than one million passengers annually are Hobart International Airport and Launceston Airport. Launceston Airport has been seeing record passenger levels with 100,000 recorded during January 2007 and 309,000 in the first three months of 2008 (an increase on 2007 of 11%).

The airport has a single terminal building and three runways only one of which is asphalt paved (14R/32L, 1,981m, 6,499ft). The facility is owned by Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited and is operated by Australia Pacific Airports (Launceston) Pty Ltd. With passenger numbers increasing it is no wonder that the airport is undergoing an upgrade / expansion project.

The terminal building was first built in 1965 and needs to be expanded to accommodate modern airport infrastructure for check-in, baggage handling and security.

The terminal currently services the four Australian interstate airlines, which are QantasLink, Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways Australia.

LAUNCESTON AIRPORT UPGRADE

In April 2008 Launceston began a major expansion / upgrade project which has an estimated cost of A$20m (US$19m). The upgrade will include a new security and baggage handling system (all baggage will be X-rayed), and also automated baggage carousels as well as additional gate space with floor-to-ceiling windows (more cafe and lounge space and additional seating) and more space in the terminal for retail concessions and food outlets – the airport currently only has one eatery, the Kavihan Cafe.

Some of the new retail space is expected to be open from July 2008 along with a new bar and cafe operated by Hudson and Delaware North. The floor space of the terminal building will effectively double from 3,000m² to 6,000m² and the three phase project is expected to be completed by August 2009. The two local companies involved in the project are Artas Architects and Vos Construction.

THREE PHASES

The upgrade will occur in three distinct phases. From May 2008 to December 2008 the outward-bound passenger areas will be upgraded and this will involve 12 new check-in counters, a new common-use baggage processing system (outward), upgraded passenger and baggage screening facilities as well as new air conditioned gate lounges with 1,200m² of floor space.

Phase two from July 2008 to March 2009 will address the public lounge facilities and this will add 100m² to the lounge floor space and reconfigure the existing security and screening areas (a space of around 800m²) to give more space for meeting and greeting.

There will also be a complete refurbishment of the cafe and retail areas in addition to floor-to-ceiling windows with excellent views of the airfield and the Ben Lomond Mountains.

Phase three will be underway from May 2008 to July 2009 and will see a new 600m² baggage arrivals shed constructed, which will allow the existing eastern baggage reclaim area to be refurbished so that passengers waiting for baggage will have more space. In addition there will be two new baggage carousels and a new integrated car rental counter.

AIRPORT BUSINESS PARK

In a separate development adjacent to the airport site there is a A$200m business park under construction which will include a Caltex service station, an Airport Motor Inn, retail showrooms and also plans for a A$36m Big Box retail development.