Australia's deputy PM notes government progress in aviation sector since 2007

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) progress has been made in the aviation sector since 2007, noting: "There were 31 fewer airports receiving passenger services and 5 million fewer passengers than there are now. There was a chronic shortage of pilots, engineers and air traffic controllers. And Australia was still feeling the impact of the collapse of Ansett in 2001". He continued, "With no coherent plan in place for the industry in 2007, we knew this had to change. After a lot of hard work, we released at the end of 2009 the first ever strategic plan for growth for the next 20 years - the Aviation White Paper. We have now implemented almost all of its 134 initiatives. This has given the aviation industry the long-term confidence it needs to plan, invest and grow the market". [more - original PR]