A major cargo role will be played by Canberra International Airport as the availability of slots and freight handling facilities at Sydney become increasingly scarce over the next decade. That’s the view of the airport’s aviation manager, Matthew Brown, who was commenting after heavy all-cargo aircraft were forced to land at Canberra, because of bad weather at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport.Brown said the diversions were a clear demonstration of the important back-up role Canberra was playing since its main runway was strengthened and lengthened to accommodate heavy aircraft.
Atlas Air and MASkargo B747 freighters have recently been diverted to Canberra after the closure of airport facilities in Sydney.Canberra International Airport has negotiated agreements with a number of international air freight carriers to allow them to touch down in the Australian capital if there are weather problems in Sydney.
Canberra is the only airport within close proximity to Sydney that is both curfew and slot free.“We are ideally placed to take advantage of a business that will deliver new jobs and new business opportunities for Canberra,” said Brown.
Login
.gif)
