More flights ‘good for travellers and exporters’
Exporters as well as travellers would benefit from expanding flights to Australia, especially from the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, Melbourne Airport’s chief executive said.
The airport is renewing a push for open skies agreements that it says would bring back international tourists and boost competition and bring down airfares for Australians.
Melbourne Airports CEO Lorie Argus says open skies will benefit the country. Eamon Gallagher
“We believe there is significant potential for improved access to Australia, and Melbourne in particular, through Asia-Pacific and the Middle East,” Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus said.
“Liberalising the bilateral air service agreements process through an open skies approach would significantly improve Australia’s connectivity with the world.”
Airlines are pushing to expand air rights in popular east coast airports, with United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines, as well as Qatar Airways, all in different stages of the approvals process.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce at an event at Sydney Airport on Monday, but left without speaking to reporters about his government’s decision to restrict Qatar’s push for expanded landing rights.
In prepared remarks, Mr Albanese praised Qantas, the most complained-about company in the country, as representing “the spirit of Australia”.
“And I say to Qantas, not just because I’m a former transport minister, but there is no company in Australia that immediately says Australia like this brand of Qantas,” Mr Albanese said.
Mr Albanese also praised Qantas’s commitment to “take Australians higher”. International airlines such as Qatar Airways have complained that the company demanded
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