Australia: Chinese-owned airport looks to increase its flights by 1000%

A Chinese government-backed training airport in northern NSW will increase its number of flights by 1000% under a development proposal as Australia struggles to avoid a local pilot shortage. The Australian International Aviation College, which is being used to train Chinese pilots for Hainan Airlines, is seeking to increase its flights in the airport from 2868 per year to 28,687 per year. Hainan, which is 8.25% owned by the Chinese provincial government, is providing funding for the training runway, one of at least three pilot training schools across Australia being used to train Chinese pilots. The federal government was forced to open up temporary visas for foreign pilots in July in a bid to stop a pilot shortage that experts warn could cripple regional air services. A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton confirmed pilots had been added to the temporary migration list following advice from the Department of Employment, but would be reviewed every six months to ensure Australian pilots were being given priority. <br/>