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Justin Giddings is the CEO of Avalon Airport.  He addressed the meeting on the features of Avalon today and on the Master Plan for its development.  He told of  recent experiences and presentations to various Asian airlines which he has targeted as potential major tenants for a future Avalon set up for international carriers.  The audience viewed a generic promotional video clip which pictorially displayed the various elements of the Master Plan.   This included the Government committed train link with a Singapore style internal network to link multiple terminals, a state of the art modern terminal conglomerate, an associated Business Centre and a DFO retail complex. 

 

Introduced by chairman Ian Warren, Justin described how his first work role after school was as an aircraft cleaner.  Sticking with the aviation industry he has combined natural work progression, for example from aircraft maintenance to operations management at Essendon, with appropriate under, and post-graduate academic business qualifications.  Since 2008 he has been the CEO for Avalon within the Fox Group of companies.

 

Since commencing as CEO, Avalon has undertaken a significant infrastructure expansion program, including an increase of aircraft parking bays from 2 to 7, a tripling of jet fuel storage capacity, and the reconfiguration of the terminal including the expansion of the food and beverage outlet.  He also secured the Australian International Air Show until 2025 and successfully negotiated with Air Services to remove obstacles relating to the Air Traffic Control and Fire Service charging structure.

 

Despite the long term focus consistent with the recent endorsement by the Commonwealth and State Government’s for Avalon to be Victoria’s next international airport, Justin pointed out that Avalon today is a highly viable option for domestic flights from the Melbourne.  He noted that with more convenient car parking and passenger access, it complemented Tullamarine rather than be secondary to it, in many cases for Melburnians travelling to certain interstate destinations. 

 

The meeting thanked Justin for a very enlightening talk on Avalon.