Zali Steggall MP welcomes improved competition at Sydney Airport
20 November 2024
I rise to speak on the Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment
Bill 2024. I welcome that this is finally here, and I urge the government to do more when it comes to increasing the choice for consumers when it comes to airlines in Australia. We need to make sure we don't have locked-in monopolies or duopolies and that there is competition. This bill addresses a long-standing issue that has compromised both the integrity of our aviation sector and the trust of Australian travellers. For years airlines, airports and industry leaders have raised concerns about large airlines engaging in slot hoarding, particularly at Sydney airport. This practice involves airlines scheduling more flights than they intend to operate, only to cancel them strategically, allowing these airlines to attain valuable slots at the expense of potential competitors. Long-term cancellation data is showing that one in 10 flights between Sydney and Melbourne is routinely cancelled.
The Australian public needs an aviation industry that is reliable, transparent and above all ethical. The challenges with Sydney airport's slots management are not a new problem. Last August, the ACCC launched legal action against Qantas for failing to inform travellers of flight cancellations, alleging the behaviour was partly motivated by a desire to hold onto slots at Sydney airport.
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