SOUTH-WEST aircraft should make Tullamarine Airport their destination to boost corporate and tourism visitor numbers, the region's peak tourism body claims.

Shipwreck Coast Marketing believes the proposed closure of Essendon airport does not spell the end of air travel to the south-west.

Its opinion flies in the face of Sharp Airlines and Wannon MP David Hawker who fear the move would hurt passenger flights, hospital transfers and business.

"I understand that the current fees smaller airlines have to pay at Tullamarine are inappropriate and cost-prohibitive," SCM chief executive Carole Reid said.

"But if the airlines could come to a suitable agreement it would be a huge advantage for this region . . . to fly directly into Tullamarine."

The closure of the Essendon base was put back on the agenda by Federal Labor MP Kelvin Thomson earlier this month.

He wants to shut the facility over health, safety and noise concerns for nearby residents.

Sharp Airlines, which flies from Portland and Hamilton to Melbourne three times a day, said its service would not be viable if Essendon airport was closed.

But Ms Reid said a financially-sound move to Tullamarine would boost the chances of commercial flights taking off from Warrnambool.

Local passengers would be more likely to fly to Melbourne if they could catch a direct connecting flight there, she said.

With the drive to the major airport under three hours, Ms Reid said people needed that convenience to want to take the trip via air.

The change would also help attract more interstate and international tourists to the region, more conferences and open up new markets in the industry, she said.

"I can see tour operators offering day trips down the Great Ocean Road before bringing them back to fly back to Melbourne.

"Or people can fly in, hire a car and drive back to Melbourne."