Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) join Sydney Airport in welcoming the passing of the Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024 in parliament last night. The Bill marks a historic reform in Sydney Airport's slot regime—the first in 27 years.
The passage of this Bill introduces key changes, including the Recovery Period mechanism, enabling the airport to recover swiftly from disruptions, reducing delays for freight and passengers alike. This reform strengthens resilience and promotes competition, ensuring Sydney Airport can accommodate the growing freight task.
Efforts were escalated early last year when FTA / APSA facilitated a critical meeting between Sydney Airport's senior management and a large number of executives from the Australian freight forwarding community to discuss challenges and inefficiencies within the demand management framework.
The meeting culminated in overwhelming support of reform, with FTA / APSA subsequently lobbying the federal government via a letter to the Hon. Anthony Albanese PM in April 2023 on behalf of members advocating for reform of Sydney Airport's demand management scheme to increase international air cargo capacity, while emphasising the airport's critical role in Australia's freight logistics and international trade.
Building on this, FTA / APSA submitted a detailed proposal to the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, advocating for reforms to unlock vital air freight capacity—an essential step to maintain Australia's trade competitiveness. This advocacy laid the groundwork for the successful passage of the Bill.
The passage of this Bill introduces key changes, including the Recovery Period mechanism, enabling the airport to recover swiftly from disruptions, reducing delays for freight and passengers alike. This reform strengthens resilience and promotes competition, ensuring Sydney Airport can accommodate the growing freight task.
This outcome underscores the power of collaboration and advocacy. FTA / APSA remains committed to working with members and stakeholders to shape a more efficient and competitive future for Australian logistics.
Thank you to all members who contributed to this success. Together, we played a paramount role in pushing these reforms forward, enhancing efficiency and capacity at Sydney Airport, particularly for air freight.
Tom Jensen - Head of International Freight & Logistics - FTA / APSA
Copyright © 2024 Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) Pty Ltd, All rights reserved.