Sydney’s regional slots are locked in
20th November, 2012
CONCERNED regional passengers flying to and from Sydney can be assured that a Coalition Government will not agree to any access cuts to Kingsford-Smith Airport for regional airlines, Nationals leader and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Warren Truss said today.His assurance comes on the back of recent comments attributed to Sydney Airport chairman Max Moore-Wilton, namely that: “Sydney Airport could operate a lot more efficiently if 40% of our capacity by law, in peak hour, wasn’t restricted to regional airlines, including QantasLink”.
“While Mr Moore-Wilton’s observation will be alarming to many regional travellers flying through Sydney, I can categorically rule out any watering down of the slots reserved for regional airlines through Sydney Airport,” Mr Truss said.
“It should come as no surprise to anyone, including Mr Moore-Wilton, that the long-held policy of the Coalition locks in regional slots permanently.
“People flying through Sydney from regional areas are not second-class passengers and will not be shunted off to far-away hubs adding further inconvenience and extra travel time to their schedules. Sydney Airport has a responsibility to serve regional NSW passengers with direct access to their capital city and so it will remain.
“Earlier this year there was scuttlebutt that regional passengers may be forced to fly through RAAF Base Richmond or Bankstown and commute to the main airport terminals.
“The Coalition declared that idea dead on arrival.
“It was the Coalition in government that enshrined regional aircraft slots at Sydney Airport and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to retain them. The Coalition, and regional Australia, will hold him to it.”
[ENDS]
