Busselton Margaret River Airport

Busselton Margaret River Airport (IATA: BQB[2], ICAO: YBLN), formerly known as Busselton Regional Airport and alternatively known as Busselton-Margaret River Regional Airport,[3] is located in the Busselton suburb of Yalyalup, 6.5 km (4.0 mi) from the Busselton town centre. Busselton is a major regional centre in the South West of Western Australia, about 220 km (140 mi) south of Perth and in the heart of the Margaret River wine region.

For the airline, see BQB Líneas Aéreas.

Busselton Margaret River Airport
Airport terminal building, 2019
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Busselton
ServesBusselton
LocationYalyalup, Western Australia
Elevation AMSL55 ft / 17 m
Coordinates33°41′14″S 115°24′01″E
Websitebusseltonmargaretriverairport.com.au
Map
YBLN
Location in Western Australia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 2,460 8,071 Asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

History

The airport was opened on 15 March 1997 and replaced Busselton Aerodrome, established in 1940, that was used extensively during World War II.[4] A largely government-subsidised air service ran from Perth Airport to Busselton from 1997 to 2001 (including Margaret River Airport from 1999); it was operated by Skywest Airlines (now Virgin Australia Regional Airlines), Maroomba Airlines, and Skippers Aviation.[5] In 2007, mining company Rio Tinto launched its first flight from the airport for fly-in fly-out workers at its mines.[6] Skywest Airlines/Virgin Australia Regional Airlines ran a service from Perth to Albany Airport via Busselton from July 2011 until December 2014, before scaling it back to a Perth-Busselton route and cancelling it altogether in April 2015.[7][8][9]

Airport terminal building, 2006

Between June and December 2014, upgrades to the terminal were made.[10] In June 2015, funding was allocated for further upgrades and redevelopment of the airport. As part of the funding agreement, Margaret River was officially added to the title of the airport in October 2015.[11] In 2017, the airport commenced the $69.7 million redevelopment which included:

  • lengthening, widening and strengthening of the existing runway to facilitate Code E aircraft;
  • a new 4 bay Code E aircraft parking apron and connecting taxiways;
  • a new passenger terminal;
  • a new general aviation precinct;
  • upgrades to the existing Code C apron
  • new aeronautical ground lighting;
  • new parking facilities;
  • upgrades to the internal road network; and
  • infrastructure to support the development of freight and commercial opportunities.

As part of the development, a new terminal building was proposed to be built in front of the new Code E Apron to help facilitate future interstate and international services. In early 2018, the Western Australian government placed the construction of the new terminal building on hold until a major commercial airline committed to interstate services that were shown to be viable.[12][13] In June 2019, it was reported that Jetstar Airways were the most likely to begin a Busselton-Melbourne route within six to nine months.[14] This route was confirmed in September 2019, with a heavily subsidised Jetstar service that was to begin in March 2020.[12][15] As a result of the route confirmation, the Western Australian government announced it would spend an extra $3.2 million upgrading the airport's terminal.[15][16][17] The route was postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.[18][19] The route is set to commence on 26 June 2021, having being postponed from the original date of 1 February of that year due to the coronavirus pandemic.[20][21]

In April 2019, the airport was designated as an international alternate airport to Perth; previously the closest airports with this designation were Learmonth and Adelaide.[22]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Jetstar Airways Melbourne (begins 26 June 2021)[20][21]
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Charter: Barimunya, Boolgeeda, Perth, West Angelas[23]

Facilities

Busselton Margaret River Airport has a single 2,460 metre long by 45 metre wide runway (03/21) and is rated at Code E with capability to handle aircraft the size and weight of the Airbus A330.[24]

Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) is available for both ends and low-intensity runway lights can be activated by radio (Pilot Controlled Lighting). Two illuminated windsocks are on site.

Non-precision instrument approaches include GNSS (GPS) approaches to both runways, and a sole NDB (ADF) approach to runway 21.

See also

References
  1. YBLN – Busselton (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 05 Nov 2020, Aeronautical Chart Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Accident history for BQB at Aviation Safety Network
  3. Adshead, Gary (23 September 2018). "Airlines keen on direct flights to Busselton-Margaret River Regional Airport". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  4. "New Busselton airport will play major role in development of SW". Government of Western Australia. 15 March 1997. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  5. "Busselton air service too expensive to operate: Minister". Government of Western Australia. 3 April 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  6. "Miners welcome Rio Tinto's new FIFO service". ABC News. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. "Virgin Australia announces new schedule on Albany and Esperance routes". Virgin Australia. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  8. Parish, Rebecca (20 April 2015). "Virgin cancels Busselton trial". Busselton Dunsborough Times. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  9. Brown, Natalie (14 October 2011). "Flights need 'ramp up': Skywest". Busselton Dunsborough Times. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  10. "Busselton Regional Airport terminal upgraded". Government of Western Australia. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  11. "Official name launched for Busselton Airport". Busselton-Dunsborough Mail. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  12. Thomas, Geoffrey; de Kruijff, Peter (30 September 2019). "Vic-Busso flights to take off". The West Australian. Retrieved 30 September 2019. After almost two years of negotiations, Jetstar Airways has agreed to operate a heavily subsidised flight from Melbourne to Busselton. The direct link connecting Victorians to the Margaret River region will start in April.
  13. Kirk, Emma (1 May 2018). "Airline decision still looms". Busselton-Dunsborough Mail. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  14. Paddenburg, Trevor (16 June 2019). "Melbourne to Busselton direct flight set for take off". The West Australian. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  15. Stephens, Kate; Lynch, Jacqueline (4 October 2019). "Jetstar announces new air route between Melbourne and Busselton". ABC. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  16. Elliott, Sophie (4 October 2019). "Jetstar launches Busselton to Melbourne flights with fare sale". Perth Now. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  17. Myles, Cameron (4 October 2019). "Jetstar flights from Melbourne to Busselton to take off in March 2020". WA Today. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  18. "Melbourne services launch postponed". Busselton Margaret River Airport. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  19. Lavell-Lee, Jackson (19 March 2020). "Jetstar flights grounded". Busselton-Dunsborough Times. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  20. Lynch, Jacqueline; Loney, Georgia (8 December 2020). "Jetstar will run direct flights between Melbourne and Busselton from February". ABC News. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  21. "Melbourne services launch delayed". Busselton Margaret River Airport. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  22. "Busselton Margaret River Airport designated as an international alternate airport". Busselton-Dunsborough Mail. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  23. "Flight Schedules". busseltonmargaretriverairport.com.au. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  24. "Airservices Australia AIP Aerodrome Chart" (PDF). 26 May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2017.
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