A number of regional airports around Australia are struggling under the heavy hand of regulation and a lack of funding for essential development, leading to a rapid decline in the number of airports operating.
The claims come from a statement by the International Quality and Productivity Centre, which is hosting the Regional Airport Development 2010 forum next year. In particular, it notes that recent changes to security regulations which now require checked baggage screening at every airport which handles scheduled services has become a major cost outlay for many airports. Fears are growing among other airports that similar regulations will be applied to all airports as part of the government’s Aviation White Paper, which will reportedly be released on December 16.
