A report issued by the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) has outlined the advantages of relocating some turbo-prop RPT aircraft from Sydney Airport to Bankstown.
Released on January 29, Sydney's Aviation Future, examining the growing aviation needs of the Sydney basin lists 26 recommendations for resolving air traffic issues in the Sydney basin, including support for a second primary airport at Badgery's Creek.
The TTF examined ways for Bankstown to take RPT traffic in order to relieve pressure on the over-crowded Sydney Airport.
"In recent years, Bankstown Airport has outlined its desire to commence limited turboprop RPT services, to both intrastate and interstate destinations," the report states.
"The current Bankstown Airport Master Plan 2004/05 approved a forecast of 12 RPT turboprop movements per day (4,380 movements per year) and the Bankstown Airport Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2010 forecast up to 32 movements per day (11,700 movements per year).
"While the option to establish limited turboprop operations currently exists, no airlines as yet have done so. The Joint Study examined options to move all turboprop operations to Bankstown Airport, which would create significant slot capacity and extend Sydney Airport’s life by an additional six years.
"It is estimated that the relocation of a single regional turboprop aircraft from Sydney Airport to Bankstown Airport to allow an international aircraft to utilise the slot would add between $200,000 and $300,000 to the economy each day, based on increased inbound visitor spend."
RPT turbo-props are capable of using Bankstown at the moment; in January a QantasLink Dash-8 inbound from Moree was diverted to Bankstown due to strong winds and the curfew at Sydney.
The report, however, goes a step further and recommends lengthening a runway to enable safe operation of Code 3C cargo aircraft and larger business jets.
Read the full report on the TTF website here.