SIA supports stance of industry body that raised concerns over Australia’s management of COVID-19 rules

SINGAPORE: An Australian trade physique that represents a number of worldwide carriers, together with Singapore Airways (SIA), has raised issues concerning the operational challenges of flying to Australia amid altering COVID-19 border measures.

In line with the Guardian, airways working flights to Australia have complained a couple of ignorance from the federal government on adjustments to flight caps and quarantine measures.

Carriers have needed to discover out about such measures via the media or statements issued at press conferences, stated the report, citing a submission that the trade physique despatched to the Australian Nationwide Audit Workplace.

The trade physique - the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia (BARA) - promotes the protected and environment friendly operations of worldwide airways serving Australia, in response to its web site.

Its members embody Malaysia Airways, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Emirates, Qatar Airways and American Airways.

In response to CNA’s queries on Saturday (Mar 27), SIA stated: "We will verify that Singapore Airways is a member of BARA.

"We are supportive of BARA’s recent submission regarding the Australian government’s border management policies.”

READ: Commentary: Singapore-Australia air travel bubble is sensible but politically challenging

BARA's executive director Barry Abrams said that other countries communicate planned changes to the airlines directly, allowing them to make adjustments to their services before changes are publicly announced, according to the Guardian.

In a separate publication online, BARA said international airlines are flying to Australia under "very poor industrial situations and ongoing operational challenges".

As an example, some resorts the place airline crew members keep whereas ready for outbound flights are at occasions not capable of present meals.

“At an operational level, airlines continue to raise issues of concern over the organisation and delivery of arrangements for air crew. They include delays at the airport and late arrival at hotels, with the hotel operator at times then unable to provide meals,” stated BARA.

“The efficiency of safe aircraft operations must be supported by properly rested air crew, basic dietary provisions and efficient travel to and from the airport to the crew hotels.”

It added that there was a scarcity of COVID-19 testing capability at airports, “leading to ongoing delays and problems for all staff involved in hotel quarantine”.

READ: Australia stories first regionally acquired COVID-19 case in every week

BARA stated that whereas airways perceive the significance of Australia's quarantine and an infection controls measure, their implementation has, at occasions, led to "chaotic outcomes for airlines, passengers and staff involved in hotel quarantine”.

According to the industry body, the operational challenges experienced are not dissipating despite requirements being in place for many months.

"Airways want to strongly word that enormously lowering the variety of permitted arrivals (together with worldwide border closures) at brief discover continues to trigger important disruption, stress and value for passengers and airways," said BARA. 

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram​​​​​​