Australian Govt releases Aviation White Paper, Qantas ownership restrictions to be relaxed

Australian Government released (16-Dec-2009) its Aviation White Paper. Highlight include:

• Removing the additional restrictions on foreign ownership of Qantas under the Qantas Sale Act 1992 (ie 25% for foreign individual shareholdings and 35% for total foreign airlines shareholdings);
• Considering more flexible arrangements for ownership of Australian international airlines other than Qantas with governments with which Australia has negotiated Open Aviation Market agreements;
• Continuing the growth of international aviation towards 'open skies' agreements;
• Allowing up to 100% foreign ownership of Australia's domestic airlines, subject to meeting Foreign Investment Review Board requirement;
• Revision of security screening regulations, including the implementation of a prohibited items regime more in line with internationally agreed standards,
• Taking into account specific threats to Australia to reduce passenger delay;
• Identifying strategies and locations to meet the aviation infrastructure needs of the Sydney region,
• Ensuring future airport operations and their economic viability are not constrained by incompatible development and protect existing and future communities from undue exposure to aircraft noise by working through COAG and other forums to put in place an effective national land use planning regime for land near airports and flight paths. [more]