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ASIA-PACIFIC AIRPORTS MAGAZINE
AIRPORT REPORT: CANBERRA
Under the radar How is Australia’s capital city gateway, Canberra Airport, faring in what is turning out to be the toughest ever year for aviation? Joe Bates investigates.
I
t is probably fair to say that Australia’s capital city gateway, Canberra Airport, goes under the radar compared to some of the country’s bigger and better-known airports. Indeed, the 3.3 million travellers that passed through its facilities last year meant that Canberra (CBR) was Australia’s eighth busiest airport for passenger traffic, handling a fraction of the 27.5 million and 26 million passengers handled at Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) respectively. However, don’t confuse its size with a lack of ambition, because with the notable exception of 2020, traffic has been on an upwards trajectory in Canberra since 2015, and the trend has led to CBR opening new capacity enhancing infrastructure this year to ensure that it is better equipped to meet long-term demand. APA Issue 3, 2020
AIRFIELD SAFETY
On August 13, Canberra Airport celebrated the opening of its new Taxiway Bravo, which the airport’s head of aviation, Michael Thomson, notes completed a 14-month project to improve aircraft safety and reduce passenger travel times. “Taxiway Bravo aligns with our long-term vision as a world-class, small international airport to be as safe and efficient as possible and provide the best travel-experience we can help to facilitate, now and well into the future,” enthuses Thomson. CBR operator, Capital Airport Group, worked closely with Huon (the main contractor) and Spiire (superintendent on the project) to ensure that the new taxiway was delivered on time and on budget.
