Air Transport

Sydney's Bankstown Airport, which is primarily a general aviation airport, plans to extend its runway and expand its passenger terminal so it can serve scheduled commercial flights.

In no way will "Bankstown Airport become a major transport airport or act as a surrogate second airport for Sydney", it says.

But it adds that in future Bankstown Airport hopes to "accommodate low capacity and low frequency niche start-up operations by small regional or inter-state carriers".

The airport's 20-year master-plan says it will extend runway 11C/29C by 220m (722ft) to 1,635m from 1,415m. This will allow it to handle larger regional aircraft such as Embraer 170s.

The airport already handles smaller aircraft such as 19-seat Beech 1900s and de Havilland Canada Twin Otters. In future, the plan envisages the airport handling E-170s, Bombardier Q400s, Saab 340s and BAe 146s.

The airport also says it plans to expand its existing passenger terminal so it can handle the projected increase in traffic.

Bankstown Airport, in Sydney's west, has always aspired to be a commercial airport. Local residents, however, have opposed this owing to noise concerns.

Over the years, several start-ups have looked at operating to Bankstown but none of these plans have come to fruition.