Surviving not thriving

The aviation industry is being taxed and regulated within an inch of its life

The Australian aviation industry is somewhat schizophrenic. Qantas and Virgin dominate the main trunk routes and soak up most of the political capital. The former is back in the black and the latter is moving heaven and earth to catch up. From the average politician or person in the street’s point of view everything appears largely as it should be, climbing airfares aside.

However, the great mass of aviation operators and businesses in the middle of the industry go about their work of supplying their vital niche services to our regional towns and remotely located industries unheralded. Most are surviving but not thriving, and are too busy to worry about much more than keeping the wolf from the door.