Exclusive licence offered for new Cobar airline
Wednesday November 26, 2008
The NSW Government has moved to call immediately for a new airline operator to service communities such as Cobar, replacing the Airlink service.
Following Airlink’s recent announcement it will be withdrawing its service from Cobar, Minister for Transport David Campbell last Friday called for expressions of interest for the route.
He said a new operator would be offered an exclusive licence on the route to ensure viability.
“I’m only too aware of the importance of these services to regional communities, which is why we are expediting the processes to find a replacement operator.
“I’m disappointed that Rex has found it necessary to pull out of these regions after only eight months into their five year exclusive license,” Mr Campbell said.
Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries
has called on the state government to due more to support air services in rural and remote NSW.
He has suggested investigations into a similar model as is used in Queensland.
“People living in remote NSW have a right to reasonable transport services, including air,” he said.
Federal Member for Calare John Cobb called for an extension to federal government subsidies, which are due to run out in 2012.
Rex (Airlink’s parent company) cited the end of the subsidies as one of the reasons for its withdrawal from Cobar.
“The scheme helps cover the cost of the en-route air traffic control charges and its demise poses a big threat to the future of regional aviation,” Mr Cobb said.
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