This is the spin from Australian Airports Association
Industry News
Tourism Central Australia and Alice Springs Town Council have released a detailed report exploring issues impacting the high cost of airfares in regional Australia.
The report, undertaken by researchers from Charles Darwin University, was prepared specifically to provide additional evidence to the Senate inquiry in to air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities. The report focuses on Central Australia, however also explores issues that extend across regional Australia.
Noteworthy items include:
• Airport charges have only a minimal impact on airfare prices, despite the rhetoric from major air carriers
• Alice Springs has some of the highest airfares in Australia, despite offering high passenger throughput and demand
• Regional Australia has disproportionately high airfares compared with capital cities, despite requiring good access to increase economic impact and decrease social disadvantage
• Businesses and residents in regional Australia find it difficult to remain in regional areas due to lack of access
• Major carriers have the ability to reduce their airfares to regional Australia and still only have minimal impact on their profitability due to the low proportion regional airfares contribute to their bottom line
To read more and download the full report click
here.