.jpg)
Virgin Blue has selected Sydney Airport for its jet base. (AFP Photo: Greg Wood)
Sydney Airport has been chosen as Virgin Blue’s new training and maintenance base, scheduled to be operational by the end of this year.
The new base, which is set to become a line maintenance hub for the airline’s Australian-based aircraft, is expected to provide a significant economic boost for the NSW economy, creating around 1,000 jobs and attracting more than $10 million of investment for the state’s aviation market.
A site at Botany will be utilised for the training of pilots and cabin crew.
NSW Development Minister Ian MacDonald said Sydney was the logical choice over other capital cities such as Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra.
“Virgin has shown confidence in Sydney and NSW by effectively creating 2,000 new jobs over the last six months in Sydney,” he told the ABC.
“It’s fantastic news for our economy that’ll bring a lot of economic benefits into NSW.”
Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said the expansion was part of a direct investment of more than $60 million in NSW.
“If you consider the investment in infrastructure, particularly the Botany facility, I think…comfortably in excess of that,” Mr Godfrey told AAP.
Earlier this year, the carrier has also decided to house the operating headquarters of its new international long-haul brand V Australia at Mascot, NSW.
While the company also operates similar facilities in Brisbane and Melbourne, their work will not be redirected to the Sydney hub as it will house part of an expanding fleet.