Australia Government has negotiated air services agreement with every ASEAN nation

Australia's deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese, speaking at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit, stated (07-Aug-2013) that since 2007, the Australian Government has "made sure that we have negotiated air services agreements with every ASEAN nation". He added, "Most of these agreements have been liberalised over the past three years to allow for further growth. We now have more flights and more airlines than ever operating into Australia. And there are now many more destinations where our own Australian airlines can fly to". He continued, "We have doubled capacity with both China and Indonesia. In the past three years, Chinese visitors to Australia have increased by almost 70 per cent. And it won't be stopping there. By 2021, around one million Chinese tourists are expected to visit our shores each year, spending a collective $7.6 billion while here. The Federal Labor Government has also signed open-skies style arrangements with Japan, and increased capacity entitlements with India, Thailand, Malaysia, Viet Nam and the Philippines. In 2021, the economic value of these tourists is projected to be around $5.7 billion. That means economic growth and more jobs for Australians right across the country. All this hard work has helped to secure the futures of Qantas and Virgin. Both airlines can now compete in new markets using their competitive alliances with foreign carriers". On the Government's Asian Century White Paper, released last year, Mr Albanese said the government "not only identified the importance of increasing air services between Asia and Australia. It also stressed the need for Australia to work with the business sector and partner governments to reduce impediments to trade and travel". [more - original PR]