COVID-19: Federal Government adds AU$184 million, making a total of AU$5 billion in aviation support
To help the aviation industry return to international business the Australian Government is injecting AU$184 million of taxpayer funding to support airports and airlines including Qantas and Virgin Australia. The funding includes AU$119.6 million to extend by 5 months the International Aviation Support program through until the end of March 2022
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For Airports
There is a new International Airport Security Charges Rebate program of $64 million to support aviation security screening costs for Australia’s international airports. The support will run from 1 October 2021, to 31 March 2022. This rebate is to help cover the costs of mandated baggage and passenger screening for international flights.
Digital vaccination checking
The Digital Passenger Declaration system to verify inbound passengers COVID-19 vaccination is also being developed in conjunction with the scheduled reopening of Australian borders.
These funding initiatives have been welcomed by Qantas, unsurprisingly.
2PAXfly Takeout
This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.
The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.
The subsidy from the taxpayer for Australian aviation has been massive. The majority of the money has supported airline staff and stopped Australian based airlines from going to the wall. Let’s hope it was all worthwhile, and that vaccines will let us get back to safe international travel soon.
Accusing me of having itchy feet for travel is an understatement!
What did you say?