Thursday, February 22, 2024
Announcement of reforms to the demand management scheme at Sydney Airport by the Federal Government will enhance efficiency and competitiveness at Australia’s leading international hub, enriching the journey for over 40 million yearly passengers.
These reforms stem from a thorough review and consultations within the industry, spearheaded by the former Chair of the Productivity Commission, Mr. Peter Harris AO. This marks the first update in 27 years to the regulations that dictate Sydney Airport’s operation.
The modifications will ensure a more transparent process in the allocation and utilization of landing slots for airlines, including detailed explanations for any cancellations and delays.
The introduction of new, independent audits on slot usage will be a crucial element of an updated compliance system that meets global benchmarks.
Travelers will also enjoy advantages from the establishment of a ‘recovery period’ after incidents of weather-related disturbances, ensuring ongoing connections for regional areas.
This recovery period will permit up to 85 aircraft movements per hour for two hours after weather disruptions, up from the standard 80, allowing delayed flights to depart on the same day. This adjustment aims to reduce the need for overnight stays and minimize cancellations.
Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport’s CEO, said: “I would like to thank Minister Catherine King and the Federal Government for staying the course on the Harris Review and bringing forward these really practical and sensible improvements to the rules that govern how Sydney Airport operates.
“These changes will promote competition and efficiency by ensuring landing slots are used as they are intended.
“Importantly, the more than 40 million passengers that come through Sydney Airport annually also stand to benefit from these reforms.
“Sydney Airport is the biggest hub in Australia’s aviation network, so when we get disrupted, the whole system is severely impacted.
“Every year we have examples of where a two-hour weather disruption leads to dozens if not hundreds of domestic cancellations, and the impacts are still being felt days later.
“For example, on the first Friday of the July school holidays last year, we had 150 weather-related cancellations, with a further 40 on each of Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Most of the cancellations across the weekend and into Monday were a consequence of Friday’s disruption as the flight cap worked against airlines recovering their schedules.
“On Monday this week we had storm activity for around 45 minutes which led to 50 domestic services being cancelled.
“In the future, with a recovery mechanism hopefully it won’t be necessary for the airlines to cancel these flights, which is a great outcome for passengers and a great outcome for the efficiency and resilience of Sydney Airport overall.
“We also recognise the importance of regional communities’ access to Sydney Airport, which will be preserved through these changes.
“We’re looking forward to working with the Government to implement these reforms and realise their benefits as quickly as possible.”
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