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Australia commits more funding support for its aviation industry
September 20th 2021
The Australian government has committed an additional A$183.65 million in job support payments and rebates to help the aviation industry prepare for the re-opening of international borders. Read More »
The funds injection extends Australia’s International Aviation Support program, which provides support for aviation jobs by five more months, to March 31, 2022, at a cost of $119.5m There also will be another $64m to help cover aviation security screening cost rebates at Australia’s major airports for the same period. This will help airports meet the costs associated with mandated security requirements such as passenger and baggage screening on international passenger flights.
The payments were announced as Australia’s biggest airport, Sydney, reported total passenger traffic in August of just 51,000 passengers, down 98.6% compared with the corresponding period in 2019.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, Barnaby Joyce, said today the payments will ensure aviation could recover strongly after the pandemic. “It’s also important that the sector continues operating now, to maintain the flow of exports and imports and bring Australians home from overseas,’’ Joyce said. Some Australian states are conducting trials of home quarantine and governments have agreed to a four-phase plan to re-open the country as vaccination levels rise. Airlines are hoping this could begin by end of this year.
Meanwhile, Regional Express (REX) on Monday became the third airline in Australia to make vaccines compulsory for frontline staff. Customer-facing staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by November 1 and Rex said the requirement followed consultations with unions, health and safety representatives as well as workers. Just 2% were opposed to vaccinations and 8% were unsure.
