The Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) was a business enterprise of the

Government of Australia The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federalism, federal parliamentary system, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster system, Westminster-sty ...

responsible for the operation of major passenger airports in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It was established by the Hawke Labor Government by an Act of Parliament in 1987 and commenced operation in January 1988. Discussion of the

privatisation Privatization (also privatisation in British English) can mean several different things, most commonly referring to moving something from the public sector into the private sector. It is also sometimes used as a synonym for deregulation when ...

of airport operation in Australia commenced in the early 1990s. In April 1994, the Keating Labor Government announced that all airports operated by FAC would be privatised in several phases. Melbourne Airport, for example, was to be included in the first phase. A firm decision was made in 1996 by the Howard Coalition Government that each airport would be leased to an individual operator for 50 years, with an option for a 49-year extension. Airport divestment was initiated in 1997 with the leasing of Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth Airports, followed by Adelaide, Canberra and Gold Coast Airports, the remaining smaller airports in 1998, Sydney Airport in 2002, and the Sydney Basin Airports of Bankstown, Camden and Hoxton Park in 2003. At the beginning of 1997 the FAC operated 22 airports and handled over 60 million passenger annually. Melbourne Airport was leased to a newly formed

Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited (APAC) is an unlisted company and owner of two List of Australian airports, Australian airports: Melbourne Airport and Launceston Airport. Each airport is operated by an airport lessee company, in wh ...

for A$1.307 billion, with the transfer being completed on 30 June 1997.

Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport is the primary international airport serving Brisbane and South East Queensland. The airport services 31 airlines flying to 50 domestic and 29 international destinations, in total amounting to more than 22.7 million passeng ...

was lease for $1.4 billion to

Brisbane Airport Corporation Brisbane Airport is the primary international airport serving Brisbane and South East Queensland. The airport services 31 airlines flying to 50 domestic and 29 international destinations, in total amounting to more than 22.7 million passeng ...

. Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited also obtained a 90% stake in

Launceston Airport Launceston Airport is a regional airport on the outskirts of Launceston, Tasmania. The airport is located in the industrial area of Western Junction from Launceston city centre. It is Tasmania's second busiest after Hobart Airport; it can als ...

for A$18.8 million on 29 May 1998, with the

Launceston City Council Launceston City Council (or City of Launceston) is a Local government in Australia, local government body in Tasmania, located in the city and surrounds of Launceston, Tasmania, Launceston in the north of the state. The Launceston local gov ...

owning the remaining 10%.

Perth Airport Perth Airport is an international, domestic and general aviation airport serving Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It is the fourth busiest airport in Australia measured by passenger movements and falls within the boundaries of ...

was leased to Westralia Airports Corporation Pty Ltd (now Perth Airport Pty Limited) in 1997. By 30 June 1998 all significant assets and liabilities of the FAC were transferred to the new airport lessee companies. The FAC continued airport operations until 24 September 1998 and the transfer of residual assets and liabilities to the Commonwealth of Australia was not completed until 8 September 1999. Sydney Airport Corporation acquired the lease for

Sydney Airport Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (colloquially Mascot Airport, Kingsford Smith Airport, or Sydney Airport; ; ) is an international airport in Sydney, Australia, located 8 km (5 mi) south of the Sydney central business district, in the ...

in 2002. At present the primary responsibility of the Airports Branch of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is the regulation of 21 leased federal airports on Commonwealth land. The Branch administers the ''Airports Act 1996'', its associated regulations and the airport head leases.Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
Airports
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References

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References

Further reading