Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been slammed over a major part of his promise about Australia’s newest, and still not built, international airport.
Mr Albanese and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced Singapore Airlines as the first international carrier to service Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) – but they did so before a deal had been signed.
‘Rather than just make announcements about overseas flights that there are not even any contracts for, the Albanese Government should be taking actions now to put downward pressure on the cost of domestic air travel,’ Shadow Transport Minister Bridget McKenzie told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday morning.
Mr Albanese and Ms King announced last month that Singapore Airlines was ‘confirming its intention’ to operate at the airport, which is due to open in 2026.
‘This new commercial arrangement allows Singapore Airlines to begin developing its future operations at WSI,’ the Government said at the time.
But no contract on landing and other fees, or the number of flights, had been finalised before that announcement was made on August 27.
Critics say jumping the gun in that way meant the advantage in negotiations was handed to the foreign airline rather than the Australian airport.
The Government’s announcement made no mention of commercial agreements, but WSI, in its statement, said commercial discussions were ‘continuing’.
‘Commercial discussions about the airline’s future operations at Australia’s first greenfield airport in more than fifty years continue,’ a WSI spokeswoman said.
Many airline industry experts, though, said new airlines were usually not announced until commercial agreements were signed and tickets were about to go on sale.
One industry insider said usually ‘there is a commercial agreement in the bank along with schedule information.
‘If you say an airline will fly there and there is no agreement, who is going to lose more face if that doesn’t work out? In this case you’d say it’s probably the airport,’ they told the Sunday Telegraph.
The Singapore Airlines announcement followed the recent collapse of two domestic airlines, Rex and Bonza, which has led to soaring flight costs.
‘Labor’s inaction on competition has meant travellers are paying more than they should to fly,’ Ms McKenzie said.
‘Trying to cover up for this inaction with a press release without an inked agreement takes the public for mugs.
‘There is no timetable, no time frames, and no date for take-off … the Prime Minister issues a press release of a promise to fly without any of the necessary ground work being done.’
Flight Centre head Graham Turner said the Government is ‘trying to put a positive light on it, but there is almost certainly no deals done in the sense of contracts or commitments’.
‘It’s a positive thing that Singapore says they will support the airport, but the devil will be in the details.’
Western Sydney Airport said ‘operational and planning’ discussions with Singapore Airlines are still being held.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Albanese, Ms King, Mr Turner and Western Sydney Airport for further comment.
