The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has welcomed a key change to the Federal Government’s proposed aviation consumer reforms, which will see smaller regional airports excluded from the planned Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme.
The decision, announced by Transport Minister Catherine King, means airports handling fewer than one million passengers annually will not be captured by the scheme — a move the AAA says reflects the realities of regional aviation.
AAA chief executive Simon Westaway said the outcome followed sustained advocacy from the industry body and represents a more balanced approach to reform.
“Australians deserve a reliable, responsive and customer-focused aviation experience, particularly when things go wrong,” Westaway said.
“We support efforts to improve transparency and accountability, but any scheme must be practical and deliver real benefits without adding unnecessary cost or complexity.”
The ombuds scheme is designed to strengthen consumer protections and streamline complaints handling across the aviation sector. However, the AAA had warned that applying the framework universally would place disproportionate pressure on smaller operators.
Westaway said many regional airports lack the staffing and financial capacity to implement additional regulatory measures, noting the sector is already under strain.
“Our recent survey data showed the typical regional airport is losing around $200,000 a year just to keep aircraft moving and runways open, with nearly 60 per cent operating at a deficit,” he said.
The one million passenger threshold, he added, ensures the scheme is targeted at larger airports where complaints are more likely to arise, while protecting smaller community assets from unnecessary costs.
The AAA also pointed out that the majority of passenger complaints relate to issues outside airport control — such as flight delays, cancellations and refunds — with recent monitoring from the competition watchdog showing airport services continue to rate strongly among travellers.
Westaway said the association would continue working with government as the reforms progress through Parliament.
“We look forward to reviewing the detail of the legislation and the subsequent regulations to ensure the final framework delivers better outcomes for passengers while remaining practical and reasonable for airports,” he said.
