Brisbane ruling could pave the way for airport cities

Dermot Davitt

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Sydney airport commercial chief says Australia's airports could mirror Hong Kong SkyPlaza development following decision to allow off-terminal commercial activities

Australian airports could benefit from a ruling allowing them to develop commercial activities outside airport concourses. Brisbane airport is set to proceed with plans to develop a huge shopping complex, hotel and golf course on its site after it won a Federal Court ruling over shopping centre developer Westfield last week.

Westfield had alleged that proposals to develop the airport complex were illegal under the Federal Airports Act, but the judge dismissed the objections.

Brisbane airport CEO Koen Rooijmans said the ruling would have a big impact on the commercial development of airports across Australia. ?Airports are now becoming cities in their own right,? he said. ?More than a place to catch planes, the modern airport is a dynamic community that is a primary engine room for its region.?

Other airports have been following the case closely and many already have tentative plans to develop their sites. Sydney airport general manager retail and commercial development Bob McFadyen told RavenFox.com: ?This is a huge development for Australia's airports. We don't have much space at Sydney to develop facilities beyond the terminals but it will have a big impact in other places. At the Global Travel Retail Summit we heard about Hong Kong airport's exciting plans for its airport city, SkyPlaza. Now it looks as if that could translate to Australia too.?