Strategic Location
Alice Springs is situated in the heart of Australia. It's nearest population centres are Darwin to the north and Adelaide to the south, both more than 1,300 Kilometres away, or two hours by jet passenger aircraft. Brisbane and Perth are also an equidistance of 2,000 kilometres on the east and west coastlines.

Statistics for Alice Springs Airport

Alice Springs Airport (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Location
Alice Springs Airport is located 14 kilometres to the south of the township of Alice Springs, the main entry point to Central Australia.

History
The history of airport site dates back to 1939 when the land was acquired by the Department of Defence. Development work on the airport commenced in 1940 in the area then known as the Seven-Mile Aerodrome.

Some civil use of the airport began in 1940. The airport was mainly utilised by the RAAF and USAF in the early years of the Second World War. By 1944, Alice Springs Airport had become effectively a transit base for RAAF aircraft but also an airport facility for civilian airline operations. At the end of the war the military departed from the aerodrome. In 1946 the Shell Company of Australia installed the first underground fuel tanks at the Seven-Mile Aerodrome. A VHF radio range facility and a meteorological facilities soon followed.

In 1958 the aerodrome became officially known as Alice Springs Airport.

By then the facilities at Alice Springs Airport were becoming inadequate to cope with the increase in air traffic. This led to the reconstruction of part of the existing Runway 12/30 and its extension to 2,438m long which was completed in 1961. The construction of a new terminal building and fire station followed in 1965 which effectively completed the transfer of all activity from the Seven-Mile Aerodrome to the current building area, with the exception of the airport maintenance staff which still continue to use facilities in the area.

In 1968 Connellan Airlines shifted from the Town site Aerodrome to Hangar 64 now occupied by AirNorth Central. Facilities for the Alice Springs Aero Club and a hangar for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) were completed in 1968 and 1969 respectively.

Over the ensuing period, additional airport infrastructure was established including hydrant refuelling facilities, a new meteorological station; and a hangar by Aboriginal Aircraft Maintenance.

The Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) assumed control of Alice Springs Airport on 1 April 1989 and occupied an existing converted on-site residence as the Alice Springs Airport Management Centre.

Helicentre (now Aircraft Engineering NT) began operations in Hangar 115 as a helicopter/aircraft maintenance centre in 1990.

A new passenger terminal was opened on 8 December 1991. This development increased the capacity of the passenger facilities to accommodate the expected growth to about 2000.

In the same year Adlington Airline Catering (now Southern Cross Catering which also includes Wilson Catering) opened a new flight kitchen and BP Australia relocated their fuel depot to provide a joint fuel depot with Shell Australia.

Progressive development of the general aviation facilities continued throughout the 1990s.

In 1996 the Royal Flying Doctor Service relocated to a new purpose built hangar complex on the general aviation apron. Aboriginal Aircraft Maintenance and Services constructed a second hangar in 1997.

On 10 June 1998, Northern Territory Airports Pty Ltd obtained a 50-year lease, plus a 49 year option from the Commonwealth Government to manage and develop the civil area of Alice Springs International Airport.

Virgin Blue

It is speculated that Virgin Blue, which ceased operations to Sydney in November 2004 and to Adelaide in September 2005, may make a return to the red centre using its new Embraer E-Jets. As of February 2008, nothing has been confirmed with Virgin Blue having not made an official announcement regarding the return, however the carrier has announced direct daily services to and from nearby Ayers Rock Airport from August 2010.

Street Address:
Santa Teresa Road, Alice Springs

Postal Address:
P O Box 796,
Alice Springs NT 0871
Australia

Email: information asp at ntairports com au

Telephone (Main Reception): 61 8 8951 1211

Facsimile: Management Centre 61 8 8955 5046; Terminal Control Centre 61 8 89 555 330

URL: Alice Springs Airport

Runway 06/24

3376 x 60 feet
1029 x 18 meters

Runway 12/30

7999 x 148 feet
2438 x 45 meters

Runway 17/35

3717 x 60 feet
1133 x 18 meters

Navaids

Navaids

The content above was published at Airports-Worldwide.com in 2004-2006.
We don't guarantee the information is fresh and accurate. The data may be wrong or outdated.
For more up-to-date information please refer to other sources.