Business View Oceania | Volume 3, Issue 9

45 46 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 to major international gateway airports. There are a further 120 corporate members within our ranks, and they represent aviation stakeholders and organisations that provide services to the airport sector. The AAA facilitates co-operation among all member airports and their many and varied partners in Australian aviation, whilst contributing to an air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible. This is for the benefit of all Australians and visitors. The AAA is also the leading advocate for appropriate national policy relating to airport activities, and operates to ensure regular transport passengers, freight, and the community enjoy the full benefits of a progressive and sustainable airport industry. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australia’s airport sector mean the voice of our association is now more important than ever. Advocacy is always front of mind, whether it’s at a local or national level. It is crucial our members are supported, no matter what their issue may be. 2. What is the size of Australian Airports Association’s staff? What are their main priorities? Does the AAA have any major changes planned for the near or long-term future? The AAA is a small but influential team. The main priorities of the AAA are of course our members; we will continue to lead through targeted and strategic policy and research, data analysis, and technical advice. We will advocate for and on behalf of our members to governments, to the Opposition, through the media and other key stakeholders. We will also continue to educate our members through our annual National Conference, which will be held in Sydney in November, and through other industry events such as the recent Pavements and Lighting Forum which was held on the Gold Coast in May, online education courses, and professional development opportunities. Our sector’s top issue currently is the fight to recover from ongoing impacts of the pandemic. Australia’s aviation industry was hit first, hit hard, and will be one of the last to recover, with airports collectively losing $320 million dollars of a revenue a month during the peak of COVID-19. More than 75% of the workforce lost their job, were put on reduced hours, or were moved to another sector. Once Australia’s current Delta outbreak gets under control and vaccination levels increase, our advocacy efforts will shift to working with our government, so that we can slowly and safely reopen Australia’s international border and kick start the domestic tourism economy. 3. What does the landscape look like for the aviation industry over the coming decade, and how important is commercial, international, and general aviation to the economy of Australia? How will the Australian Airports Association continue to be a viable voice for the industry? Domestic passenger numbers at airports in May 2021 were sitting in their strongest position since the pandemic began; 70% of pre-COVID levels. The outbreak of the virus’s Delta variant across Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide in June and July has taken the airport sector back to square one, with domestic passenger numbers at our major airports dropping to just 47%. This sharp decline was felt in a matter of weeks and shows the fragility of recovery in our sector. While a strong domestic tourism market is important, it will never fill the gap of international visitors. The fact remains that overseas tourists spend three times more than domestic travellers, and the reality is, until international borders reopen, Australia will continue to lose $250 million dollars from the economy every day. The Australian Government has recently proposed a four-phase plan to slowly and safely AUSTRAL I AN A I RPORTS ASSOC I AT ION