Ayers Rock Airport
Encyclopedia
Ayers Rock Airport is situated near Yulara, around 463 km (287.7 mi) (5 hrs drive) away from Alice Springs
, Northern Territory
, and 20 minutes drive from Uluru
(Ayers Rock) itself. An average of 400,000 passenger movements per year pass through this airport in the middle of Australia.
, Douglas DC3s, and a few other planes.The development of tourism infrastructure adjacent to the base of Uluru that began in the 1950s soon produced adverse environmental impacts. It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres (40 sq mi) of land beyond the park's northern boundary, 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Uluru, was approved for the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara. The new facilities became fully operational in late 1984.
On the 6th of August, 2000, at 8:41am AEST, an Ansett Airbus A320-211 VH-HYN), arrived from Auckland Airport, New Zealand
, carrying the Sydney Olympic Torch for its inaugural Australian leg. From there, the torch was taken for a run around Ayers Rock, followed by a formal reception.
s, Toilets, Departure and Arrival areas, Bus bays and Short term parking.
The largest aircraft that Ayers Rock Airport caters for is Boeing 737
-800s operated by Qantas and Virgin Australia. QantasLink operate a number of Boeing 717
-200s in and out of the airport.
.
Qantas operates Boeing 737-400/800's, Qantaslink operates Boeing 717-200's and Virgin Australia operates Boeing 737-800's (previously Embraer E-190's) in and out of Ayers Rock Airport. All Qantaslink services are operated by National Jet Systems.
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is situated in the geographic centre of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, and 20 minutes drive from Uluru
Uluru
Uluru , also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park....
(Ayers Rock) itself. An average of 400,000 passenger movements per year pass through this airport in the middle of Australia.
History
Connellan Airport was originally started by EJ Connellan. He started an airline called "Connellan Airways" which specialised in transport, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Mail runs. The planes that were used in this airline were usually "Butterflies" which were given to them from QantasQantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, Douglas DC3s, and a few other planes.The development of tourism infrastructure adjacent to the base of Uluru that began in the 1950s soon produced adverse environmental impacts. It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres (40 sq mi) of land beyond the park's northern boundary, 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Uluru, was approved for the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara. The new facilities became fully operational in late 1984.
On the 6th of August, 2000, at 8:41am AEST, an Ansett Airbus A320-211 VH-HYN), arrived from Auckland Airport, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, carrying the Sydney Olympic Torch for its inaugural Australian leg. From there, the torch was taken for a run around Ayers Rock, followed by a formal reception.
Airport facilities
Ayers Rock Airport has one main terminal for scheduled flights which contains: Check-in, Customs Baggage Screening, a single Baggage collection conveyor belt, a National Geographic shop, vending machineVending machine
A vending machine is a machine which dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, consumer products and even gold and gems to customers automatically, after the customer inserts currency or credit into the machine....
s, Toilets, Departure and Arrival areas, Bus bays and Short term parking.
The largest aircraft that Ayers Rock Airport caters for is Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
-800s operated by Qantas and Virgin Australia. QantasLink operate a number of Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
-200s in and out of the airport.
Technical aspects
The runway at Ayers Rock Airport is 2599 metre. It has a simple, single stage lighting system and T-VASISVisual Approach Slope Indicator
The visual approach slope indicator is a system of lights on the side of an airport runway threshold that provides visual descent guidance information during the approach to a runway...
.
Airlines and destinations
In addition, there are a wide number of scenic flights that are offered by different private charters.Qantas operates Boeing 737-400/800's, Qantaslink operates Boeing 717-200's and Virgin Australia operates Boeing 737-800's (previously Embraer E-190's) in and out of Ayers Rock Airport. All Qantaslink services are operated by National Jet Systems.