After Rex Airlines announcement last week that cancelled its Whyalla to Adelaide flight route, calls are being made for the federal government to make security funding for country airports fairer and more equitable.
With the government subsidy on security screening in airports set to end by July, it means either councils will have to foot the bill or pass the cost onto airlines.
Lower Eyre Peninsula Mayor Jo-Anne Quigley says that’s a greater financial burden on country airports with fewer passengers but Putting a security screening levy on ALL flights in Australia has been suggested as a way to make the system fairer in country areas.
She said her council’s financial calculations showed that a 75 cent levy per passenger per flight nationwide would cover the costs of security screening at all regional airports.
Quigley says she plans to introduce a motion at the upcoming national general assembly of the Australian Local Government Association calling on the federal government to change the legislation so that all airlines have to pay for security screening.
Updates from Mayor Jo-Anne Quigley here.
