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22nd Sep 2004, 06:02
From ABC.net (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200409/s1204299.htm)
The New South Wales Opposition has hit out at Sydney Airport Corporation over what it describes as an attempt to downgrade the major regional airline in NSW.
Regional Express (REX) has rejected an offer to move to a site at Sydney Airport shared by three other regional operators.
Nationals' MP and Opposition tourism spokesman Ian Armstrong says the offer is impractical.
Mr Armstrong says a third of the state's population is in the regions and those residents should not be disadvantaged.
"Commonsense would tell you not to put a major regional airline in with a number of smaller airlines in a single lounge with a single desk without facilities for crews, with very, very limited facilities for passengers - it's almost in a hallway in the terminal, is not in the interests of an expanding airline, let alone rural NSW," he said.
The Sydney Airport Corporation says REX has been offered gate access comparable to all other airlines and should stop complaining.
Chief Max Moore-Wilton says the negative media campaign being pursued by REX is dishonest and will only serve to delay proper negotiations.
He says there is no way REX would have to relocate to Bankstown Airport.
Mr Moore-Wilton says at the end of the day, he has no doubt regional passengers will continue to have access to a full range of facilities at the T2 terminal at Sydney Airport.
The New South Wales Opposition has hit out at Sydney Airport Corporation over what it describes as an attempt to downgrade the major regional airline in NSW.
Regional Express (REX) has rejected an offer to move to a site at Sydney Airport shared by three other regional operators.
Nationals' MP and Opposition tourism spokesman Ian Armstrong says the offer is impractical.
Mr Armstrong says a third of the state's population is in the regions and those residents should not be disadvantaged.
"Commonsense would tell you not to put a major regional airline in with a number of smaller airlines in a single lounge with a single desk without facilities for crews, with very, very limited facilities for passengers - it's almost in a hallway in the terminal, is not in the interests of an expanding airline, let alone rural NSW," he said.
The Sydney Airport Corporation says REX has been offered gate access comparable to all other airlines and should stop complaining.
Chief Max Moore-Wilton says the negative media campaign being pursued by REX is dishonest and will only serve to delay proper negotiations.
He says there is no way REX would have to relocate to Bankstown Airport.
Mr Moore-Wilton says at the end of the day, he has no doubt regional passengers will continue to have access to a full range of facilities at the T2 terminal at Sydney Airport.