Australia urged to expand flights to Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in blueprint to boost trade
Australia should expand flights to key south-east Asian markets such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, according to a sweeping economic blueprint to boost trade. The strategy, to be released by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Wednesday, also calls on the government to cut foreign investment barriers, fast track visas and urgently improve Australia’s “south-east Asia literacy”. Australia’s two-way trade with south-east Asian countries was worth $178b in 2022, but has been rising more slowly than average economic growth across the “powerhouse” region, the document warns. The government commissioned the former Macquarie Group boss Nicholas Moore to examine how to tap into that growth. His report makes 75 recommendations, including expanding “air links to help promote the movement of people, goods and services with the region”. The government is releasing the report amid intense domestic political debate over the decision to block Qatar Airways’ request for further flights to Australia, and upheaval at the top of Qantas. Moore’s report says: “Given the reliance of travellers between Australia and south-east Asia on air travel, ensuring airlines are well positioned to cater for future demand will be crucial. The Australian government should seek to enhance capacity opportunities available to airlines under air service agreements so that they remain ahead of demand, enabling future growth and competition to support increases in travel and freight.” That echoes a submission from the Australian Airports Association, which argued bilateral air services agreements were constraining access from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The association said better negotiation of those agreements and reform of the visa-issuing system would help “overcome some of the obstacles faced by airports in serving south-east Asian markets for tourism, education, skills and training”. However, government figures show there is still some room for growth in existing agreements.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2023-09-06/general/australia-urged-to-expand-flights-to-malaysia-the-philippines-thailand-and-vietnam-in-blueprint-to-boost-trade
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/logo.png
Australia urged to expand flights to Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in blueprint to boost trade
Australia should expand flights to key south-east Asian markets such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, according to a sweeping economic blueprint to boost trade. The strategy, to be released by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Wednesday, also calls on the government to cut foreign investment barriers, fast track visas and urgently improve Australia’s “south-east Asia literacy”. Australia’s two-way trade with south-east Asian countries was worth $178b in 2022, but has been rising more slowly than average economic growth across the “powerhouse” region, the document warns. The government commissioned the former Macquarie Group boss Nicholas Moore to examine how to tap into that growth. His report makes 75 recommendations, including expanding “air links to help promote the movement of people, goods and services with the region”. The government is releasing the report amid intense domestic political debate over the decision to block Qatar Airways’ request for further flights to Australia, and upheaval at the top of Qantas. Moore’s report says: “Given the reliance of travellers between Australia and south-east Asia on air travel, ensuring airlines are well positioned to cater for future demand will be crucial. The Australian government should seek to enhance capacity opportunities available to airlines under air service agreements so that they remain ahead of demand, enabling future growth and competition to support increases in travel and freight.” That echoes a submission from the Australian Airports Association, which argued bilateral air services agreements were constraining access from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The association said better negotiation of those agreements and reform of the visa-issuing system would help “overcome some of the obstacles faced by airports in serving south-east Asian markets for tourism, education, skills and training”. However, government figures show there is still some room for growth in existing agreements.<br/>
