Aviation White Paper — Towards 2050

Report – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Australia), 26 August 2024

Aviation White Paper — towards 2050

15 years after the release of the previous Aviation White Paper, this publication sets out the government’s long-term policy vision to deliver a safe, competitive, sustainable, productive and efficient Australian aviation sector out to 2050.

As a nation, Australia is uniquely reliant on aviation to provide us with critical links to each other and the world; Aviation also plays a critical role in enabling other sectors of the economy, including the major export sectors of tourism, trade and higher education.

Recent struggles among smaller industry operators have highlighted the critical importance of strong policy and regulatory settings to protect the rights of aviation customers in a smaller market. The government will act to make airlines more accountable to customers for delivering flights as scheduled, remove barriers to competition and support efficient investment in airports to cater for growth.

This white paper lays out the Australian Government’s long term policy agenda, with a focus on maintaining reliable regional air services at accessible prices while ensuring the responsible use of taxpayers’ money. The paper also proposes to reduce barriers to competition, making it easier for airlines to enter the Australian market – particularly the key hub of Sydney Airport – and scrutinising more closely the behaviour of incumbent airlines and natural monopoly airports.

Key proposals

• Legislation of an Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme to provide an independent dispute resolution and performance monitoring service.
• Establishment of a new Aviation Customer Rights Charter to improve the passenger experience, setting out the fair and appropriate treatment of customers by airlines and airports.
• The creation of new aviation-specific disability standards requiring airlines and airports to work together to facilitate the journeys of people with disability
• Reduce barriers to competition in the aviation sector.
• The aviation sector will contribute towards net zero goals by fast-tracking support for a low carbon liquid fuel industry, with an initial focus on sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.
• The Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program will be extended, providing an additional $50 million over 3 years to improve the safety and accessibility of remote airstrips.
• An additional $40 million over 3 years has been committed to extending the Regional Airports Program.
• An Aircraft Noise Ombuds Scheme will be established independently to investigate how Airservices Australia responds to noise complaints.
• The government will consider options to introduce new drone legislation by 2030 giving law enforcement and other agencies increased powers to protect people and infrastructure.

Read the full report here: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2024-08/apo-nid328083_0.pdf