Airport manager David Blackwell told International Longwall News Rockhampton Airport was uniquely positioned to provide international and domestic heavy haulage service as no other airport within the region had the capability.

 

“Other airlift ports include Brisbane and Cairns airports; but due to their distance from Central Queensland, we do not believe that they are as cost or time effective as using Rockhampton Airport for urgent or important freight consignments,” Blackwell said.

 

He said the airport has a 24/7 curfew-free basis to reduce any delays and that his crew had developed a sound level of experience in the handling of large and often unique freight items, including helicopters, trucks, cars, spare parts, fuel, food, explosives and numerous other bulk goods.

 

“When compared to the issues associated with road freight from Brisbane or Cairns, we believe that there is a natural fit between the capabilities of Rockhampton Airport and the demands of the mining industry for quick and cost-effective air transport services,” Blackwell said.

 

“We have the capability to provide this service on a 24/7 basis and are keen to work with the mining industry to assist them with this task.”

 

Following the extension of the main runway in 1998, Rockhampton Airport has received international wide body aircraft, although the airport’s ability to serve the mining industry has only recently been realised.

 

The airport is currently spending $A8 million on upgrades, including work to ensure the sustainability of its large aircraft operations and to its passenger terminal to better cope with the growth in domestic and international traffic.

 

Over the past 12 months, approximately 600,000 domestic and 8000 international passengers transited Rockhampton Airport. The airport has the ninth longest civilian runway in Australia and regularly lands the largest military and civilian aircraft operating in the world today.

 

Over the last year it has received Russian Heavy Lift flying the Antanov AN-124 – the largest civilian freight/cargo aircraft in operation today; as well as UK, Portuguese and Singaporean airlines.

 

Blackwell said Rockhampton had not increased its airport charges for 16 years, not even for CPI (consumer price index), in order to provide “one of the most cost-effective airports in Australia for international charter operations”.

 

“We provide a viable alternative to many of the larger international airports,” he said.