Board of Airline Representatives of Australia (BARA) executive director Barry Abrams has called on the federal government to provide foreign airlines operating in Australia with a “modest level of assistance”.
According to its website, BARA “is the industry body that promotes the safe and efficient operations of international airlines serving Australia”, and represents foreign airlines including Singapore, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Cathay Pacific.
BARA argues that the number of foreign airlines operating regular services in Australia has fallen from 54 to 15 as a result of the pandemic. Therefore, taxpayer assistance is required to ensure that a competitive number of international airlines are in operation once Australia’s international border reopens.
