Avalon Airport (IATA: AVV, ICAO: YMAV) is a domestic airport, located in Avalon in the City of Greater Geelong in Victoria, Australia. While located outside the Melbourne metropolitan area, it is the second busiest of the four airports serving the state capital in passenger traffic. It is located 15 km (9 mi) north-east of the Geelong CBD and 50 kilometres (31 mi) south-west of the Melbourne CBD. The airport is operated by Avalon Airport Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Linfox.

Quick Facts Avalon Airport Melbourne–Avalon, Summary ...

Avalon Airport Melbourne–Avalon
IATA: AVV ICAO: YMAV WMO: 94854
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Department of Defence
Operator	Linfox
Serves	Melbourne Geelong
Location	Avalon, Victoria, Australia
Opened	1953; 71 years ago (1953)
Elevation AMSL	35 ft / 11 m
Coordinates	38°02′26″S 144°28′15″E
Website	Official website
Map
YMAV AVV Show map of City of Greater Geelong YMAV YMAV (Victoria) Show map of Victoria YMAV YMAV (Australia) Show map of Australia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 18/36 3,048 10,000 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Passengers Estimated 1,350,000[1]
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[2]

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Avalon is currently served by passenger airlines Jetstar, which began domestic flights in 2004,^[3] and Bonza, which began service at the airport in February 2023.^[4] The airport is also the site of the biennial Australian International Airshow, which has been held at the venue since 1992.^[5]

Unlike Melbourne Airport, Avalon Airport is not governed by the Commonwealth's Airports Act 1996. The airport has a single runway in addition to a helipad.

The airport is located on land of the original indigenous owners, the Wathaurong people,^[6] and a scatter stone area is preserved on the Avalon Airport site, out of respect for the original owners.^[7] The land has undergone many changes over the past century.

In the beginning, the airport was a sheep and cattle farm and homestead, founded by James Austin, an immigrant from Glastonbury, Somerset, England. James established his farm and named the homestead "Avalon" after the isle of Avalon at Glastonbury, the mythical island in the Arthurian legend. In 1952 the Commonwealth Government bought 1,754 hectares (4,333 acres) at Avalon for just 110 pounds, as the land was deemed to be of poor quality farmland due to the abundance of volcanic rock littering the surface.^[8]

The airport was opened in 1953, to cater for the production of military aircraft.^[9] Previously, the Government Aircraft Factories at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne had used a runway beside the factory. However, newer jet aircraft required a longer runway for safe operations, and the Fisherman's Bend runway was being encroached upon by development.

A 3,048 m (10,000 ft) runway was built by Country Roads Board, with the first plane landing on 3 April 1953 – a four-engined Avro Lincoln heavy bomber flown from Fishermans Bend. The English Electric Canberra light bomber was under construction at same time at the new airport. In 1959, Qantas established a training base at the site.^[10]

In 1961, Government Aircraft Factories combined with the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, and built and serviced 110 Mirage fighters at the site, and in 1970 Jindivik Target Aircraft transferred to Avalon Airport from Fishermens Bend, adding production of 170 Nomad and 75 Hornet military jets, in addition to servicing of other jets.^{[citation needed]}

In 1985 the Government Aircraft Factories changed its name to Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA).^[11] Aircraft produced during this time included the GAF Jindivik remotely piloted aircraft, and Nomad civil aircraft. Under the ASTA banner, engines for the Dassault Mirage III jet fighters were produced, as well as assembly of the F/A-18 multirole combat aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).^{[citation needed]}

In October 1988, the ASTA Aircraft Services division took the first Boeing 747 to Avalon for servicing and maintenance. By December 1993, fifty 747 aircraft had been through the Avalon facility, and 820 people were employed at the site.^[12] October 1995 saw a Cathay Pacific Lockheed L-1011 flown to Avalon for scrapping by ASTA Aircraft Services, in what was a one-off event.^[13][14]

Training of pilots from Japan's All Nippon Airways commenced at the airport on 8 September 1993.^[15]

On 27 June 1995 Aerospace Technologies of Australia was privatised by the Commonwealth Government,^[16] selling the aircraft divisions to Rockwell Australia Limited, and the airport operations to Avalon Airport Geelong Pty Ltd.^[11] The ASTA airliner overhauling facility was closed in 1997.^[17]

The first scheduled passenger flights out of the airport were operated by Hazelton Airlines, who commenced flights between Avalon Airport and Sydney in February 1995. 36-seat Saab 340 aircraft were used for the service.^[18] The service was discontinued after a short time due to a lack of passengers.^{[citation needed][when?]}

Since the introduction of Jetstar in 2004, the Avalon Airport terminal facilities have expanded from the original size of 732 square metres (7,880 sq ft) to nearly 5,600 m² (60,000 sq ft). Over $100 million has been invested in the airport thus far to complete the following:

• An apron expansion to accommodate a further four aircraft as well as enable the opportunity to accommodate an aircraft the size of a Boeing 747.
• A total of seven A320 sized aircraft can now be parked simultaneously in front of the airport terminal.
• Installation of a flight information display system
• Fuel farm expansion to triple storage capacity from 500,000 to 1,500,000 litres of A1 jet fuel plus installation of new fuel pipelines
• Construction of a new bus, taxi and hire car road and various rerouted roads to manage incoming passenger traffic and other road infrastructure upgrades
• Fuel farm electrical maintenance and demolition of unused buildings
• Significant infrastructure upgrades as part of the Australian International Airshow

The following airlines operate scheduled flights at Avalon Airport:

As of 2023, international flights no longer operate due to airlines pulling out such as Citilink and AirAsia X, who formerly operated international flights from Avalon Airport.^{[citation needed]}

The video clip of Human Nature's 2000 song He Don't Love You was filmed at the airport.^[41]

In July 2013, it was proposed by Geelong City Council that a theme park be built at Avalon, and they have held discussions with Village Roadshow and other companies concerning the proposal. African Safari World was a previous proposal at nearby Werribee Zoo that did not get approved.^[42]

The biennial Australian International Airshow operates from Avalon Airport. The project is owned by Aviation Development Australia Limited. The event attracts a total attendance of over 195,000 across the six days, including exhibitors from the international aerospace industry and government, military, scientific and trade delegates.^[43]

• On 6 August 1976, a prototype N24 Nomad crashed shortly after takeoff at Avalon while a flight test of modifications to the tail of the aircraft. Two of the three crew members were killed in the accident,^[48] notably including pilot Stuart Pearce, father of actor Guy Pearce.^[49]
• A serious incident involving a Tiger Airways Australia Airbus A320 flight from Sydney occurred on 30 June 2011 when the crew performed a missed approach at Avalon outside of published procedures, resulting in the aircraft overflying the Geelong suburb of Leopold at a dangerously low altitude, without guidance from Air Traffic Control. The incident made national headlines and triggered a five-week grounding of the airline over a busy school holiday period while a safety audit was conducted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.^[50][51]

• Melbourne Airport rail link
• Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
• List of airports in Victoria
• Transport in Australia