Thursday, 19 October 2023

Success on ATIA’s call for return of ACCC monitoring of domestic airlines

The reinstatement of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s monitoring of domestic airlines is great news for travellers and travel businesses and will support increased efficiency and reliability of flights.

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) welcomes the Federal Government’s decision given the critical importance of quarterly reporting by the ACCC.

ATIA has repeatedly called for the reintroduction of ACCC monitoring of domestic aviation including in its submissions to the Inquiry into Tourism and International Education Sectors, and the Bilateral Air Rights Inquiry[1], and reinforced in recent roundtables for the Aviation White Paper process.

Quotes attributable to ATIA CEO Dean long (available for interview)
“Quarterly reporting by the ACCC is critically important to tracking the overall health of Australia’s domestic aviation sector, especially while Travel’s recovery is still underway and capacity still lacking. We saw the benefits of this monitoring during COVID with the ACCC identifying areas that needed to be addressed including in relation to the sale of tickets for cancelled flights.”

“This reporting unlocks critical information that allows consumers and industry stakeholders to receive timely and relevant information including about capacity and prices. The enhancements to add consumer complaints will further build trust.”

“When the monitoring commenced during COVID, we saw this reporting allow valuable insight into the overall health of the domestic aviation sector to support Australia’s overall economic growth."

“This is a unique moment in time for change and we are delighted that the Federal Government has acted in line with ATIA’s submissions to the Tourism and International Education Sectors Inquiry and the Bilateral Air Rights Inquiry, and reinforces in recent roundtables for the Aviation White Paper Process.”

[1] A copy of ATIA’s submission is available bit.ly/3RlZ8ak
* Sari-Elle Kraemer skraemer@alphaconsulting.global

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