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Domestic airlines look for growth opportunities amid continuing challenges
Australia’s domestic airlines are gradually recovering from historically low passenger numbers, but snap border closures continue to create challenges for the industry.
The ACCC’s third Airline Competition in Australia report, released today, shows total passenger numbers for December 2020 were 41 per cent of pre-COVID numbers, up from the 13 per cent of pre-pandemic levels reported in September 2020.
The gradual recovery of the industry over the quarter to December 2020 meant air traffic also started to return to pre-pandemic domestic patterns. While intrastate routes accounted for the vast majority of passengers throughout 2020 because of closed borders, 69 per cent of passengers in December 2020 flew on interstate routes, up from 26 per cent in September 2020.
âKnot in the pit of my stomachâ: Even booming tourism operators live in fear
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It takes several laps of Noosaâs main drag, Hastings Street, to find a carpark and nearly every table is occupied at the string of sidewalk cafes by 9am.
It is a weekday and a vastly different scene than in the far north Queensland city of Cairns where near-empty tour boats are floating around the Great Barrier Reef.
Queenslandâs multibillion-dollar tourism industry has been knee-capped by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Tourism Industry Council chief Daniel Gschwind estimating at least $12 billion has been ripped from the sector in the past year alone.
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Powering up his local governmentâs car fleet with electric vehicles is one way for Canterbury Bankstown mayor Khal Asfour to deliver on his councilâs climate commitments â but itâs saving some serious cash, too.
âThe majority of our electric fleet consists of the Hyundai IONIQ, with each of these vehicles saving council in excess of $11,000 a year in maintenance and fuel costs,â says Cr Asfour. Heâs starting small â with 46 electric or hybrid vehicles â but aiming big, with a 2025 goal to make all 345 of the councilâs fleet electric vehicles, or EVs as theyâre known.