Adelaide Airport overnight curfew needed, Business SA says

A REVIEW of Adelaide Airport’s flight curfew should be held while the airport is undergoing a $165 million expansion, the state’s peak business lobby says.

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A REVIEW of Adelaide Airport’s flight curfew should be held while the airport is undergoing a $165 million expansion, the state’s peak business lobby says.

Business SA executive director Anthony Penney said reviewing the curfew made perfect sense given the myriad of technological advancements since it was enacted in 2000.

Mr Penney said shaving two hours off the curfew — so flights would only be unable to operate from midnight to 5am — would significantly boost the state’s economy.

“Increasing the airport’s flexibility makes it more valuable for passenger carriers but most importantly, makes it more attractive for passengers and that’s a win for SA,” Mr Penney said.

“This airport expansion will make Adelaide and South Australia an even more attractive destination to airlines so now is a perfect time to review the curfew.

“There’s no denying that aircraft are quieter than they were in 2000 when the Act was written.”

Adelaide Airport chairman Rob Chapman has previously urged community discussion to take place about the overnight curfew, saying altering it by as little as one hour could create a $500 million economic boost.

An artist's impressions of the Adelaide Airport redevelopment.

SA Tourism Minister David Ridgway said the current curfew arrangement — where freight aircraft can fly 24/7, but passenger aircraft cannot arrive or depart between 11pm and 6am — worked well.

“The attraction of additional airlines and more flights under the current curfew demonstrates that more international flights can be added without having to alter the curfew,” Mr Ridgway said.

“As far as Adelaide Airport’s capacity, their recent announcement around the terminal expansion and ongoing master plan is very much welcomed by the government, and we congratulate Adelaide Airport on progressing this exciting project which will see 200 jobs at the height of construction, and 630 direct and indirect jobs flowing from the retail expansion.”

Labor transport spokesman and western suburbs MP Tom Koutsantonis said Adelaide Airport’s proximity to the city and SA’s wine regions was one of its great advantages over other capital city airports.

“The social licence for that is a curfew,” he said.

Mr Koutsantonis said the number of flights into Adelaide had steadily increased, regardless of the curfew.

Federal Transport Minister Michael McCormack, who oversees federal airport regulations, did not respond to a request for comment.