AAA: Federal budget fail to allocate more funds for regional airports

10 May, 2017

Australian Airports Association (AAA) expressed (09-May-2017) disappointment in the 2017/18 Federal Budget for not allocating more funds to support regional airports. AAA CEO Caroline Wilkie stated: "The remaining funding available in the Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) programme simply isn't adequate to address the AUD170 million (USD125 million) shortfall in essential aeronautical infrastructure investment in regional Australia". AAA stated 61% of regional airports reported budget deficits in FY2014/15 and 40% anticipate persistent budget deficits over the next decade. Meanwhile, the cost of operating a regional airport is forecast to rise by 40% over the next 10 years. [more - original PR]