COUNCIL must stop acting as a “blocker” and help open the gates to competition on the Tamworth to Sydney air route, according to Independent candidate for Tamworth Peter Draper.
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Mr Draper, a former executive with the ill-fated Hazelton Airlines, said the leg was the “backbone of the local
business community” and Qantas’ monopoly was hurting the economy.
It comes eight months after Tamworth councillors scotched a move by Rex to challenge QantasLink on the route earlier this year by rejecting its demand to waive the $8.50-per-seat security screening charge.
Under federal law, passengers on planes under 20 tonnes – such as Rex’s fleet of Saab 340s – are not required to be screened.
Residents and the local business community have long lamented the sky-high cost of QantasLink tickets on the leg, which remains one of the airline giant’s most profitable.
“I’ve had discussions with my contacts at Rex and they are still genuinely interested in coming,” Mr Draper said.
“It’s a shame council is acting as a blocker.
“They (Rex) shouldn’t be put in a position where they have to pay fees they’re not legally required to pay.
“Perhaps council has to absorb the costs or revisit who is required to pay the fee.”
Rex last year claimed competition on the leg would virtually halve ticket prices overnight.
Tamworth Business Chamber president Tim Coates said it was critical the city had a second carrier to the state capital.
“We’ve been advocating for it for three years and not having competition is a barrier to decentralisation,” Mr Coates said.
“Cost-effective air travel is absolutely paramount.”
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said while QantasLink offered a “good service”, competition was vital.
“But I don’t want to see here what’s happening across regional NSW where new air services are introduced with great promise, only to have communities let down when they’re not sustained,” Mr Anderson said.
Council general manager Paul Bennett said he strongly stood by the decision to impose screening charges on Rex.
“It was absolutely the right decision and I will always maintain our stance on having a secure airport and an equitable charging regime for airlines,” Mr Bennett said.
“I would be delighted if the state government wanted to drive competition in the sector and subsidise security costs for airlines that don’t require screening by law.”