AFTA calls for airline scrutiny

AFTA calls for airline scrutiny
By admin


The Government has agreed to discuss ways it can more effectively scrutinise the financial position of start-up airlines following the demise of Air Australia.

Following pressure from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, tourism minister Martin Ferguson has agreed to put the matter up for discussion at the next meeting of the Tourism Access Working Group.

AFTA, along with tourism bodies, has a seat on the committee, which is chaired by Ferguson and also includes officials from Anthony Albanese’s transport ministry.

AFTA chief executive Jayson Westbury raised the issue with Ferguson during a National Tourism Authority meeting in Cairns with the minister sympathetic to the concerns.

Westbury is keen for the Government to explore any oversights in the process that grants licences to airlines and enables them to operate.

He said airlines should undergo a more rigorous examination to determine the financial stability and operational integrity of the business.

Westbury argued that while travel agents are over regulated, start-up airlines appear to have a relatively easy ride.

“Martin Ferguson has agreed to put the issue up for discussion at the next working group meeting,” he told Travel Today. “We need to see what oversights are going on and see what can be done so to prevent similar problems in the future.”

Travel agents, wholesalers and a range of suppliers have been left financially damaged by the collapse of Air Australia with Westbury calling on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to unleash the full force of its powers on the carrier’s chief executive Michael James.

Westbury said he has been inundated with an “unprecedented number” of calls from retailers regarding the collapse.

The next meeting of the working group is expected to take place before the end of June.

Latest News

  • Tourism

Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs

Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull is departing the agency with effect from Friday May 10. Over the past three years, Turnbull played an instrumental role in driving growth, with one of the agency’s most significant achievements being the increase in visitor spend. Under her leadership, Tourism WA achieved a record breaking $17.7 billion in […]

  • Travel Agents

DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign

DriveAway has launched its Brit-Euro Blitz: Explore the UK, Europe & Ireland campaign, designed to inspire travellers to uncover the beauty and diversity of those destinations during May and June. The campaign arrives amidst a surge in popularity for destinations across the UK, Europe and Ireland, with year-to-date increases averaging around 30%. Notably, cities such […]

  • Road & Rail

Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern

Great Southern’s Fly and Stay Free special offer will have travellers taking in the views along the east coast between Adelaide and Brisbane next summer. This bright orange locomotive chases the summer sun, sharing the incredible coastline with those who want to experience it by train. The journey reflects the best of Australia, from charming […]

  • Tourism

Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips

Gen Z travellers prefer to limit alcohol when overseas and have an increased reliance on TikTok when planning a trip, according to a report by StudentUniverse, the world’s largest online travel retailer for young people. The State of Student & Youth Travel Report for 2024 delved into the latest travel sentiments amongst those aged 18-25 […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]