Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme - Submission to the Department of Infrastructure,

Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme Submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts October 2024 Introduction Australian Chamber – Tourism (the Chamber) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the design of the Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme (the ombuds scheme). [...] The Chamber recognises that the establishment of an ombuds scheme has been the subject of significant advocacy of our members over a sustained period; as such, we thank the Government for committing to implementing such a scheme. [...] This is crucial – the scheme must be directly between the airline (and airports) and the consumer, as the terms and conditions of an airfare are set by the airlines, and the consumer funds are held by the airline, not the travel agent. [...] Regardless of the figure, it is important that there is a threshold point to ensure that smaller regional and rural airports are not burdened with the requirements of the ombuds scheme, especially where the ACL applies. [...] 3 | ACCI Submission: Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme Transparency The Chamber encourages transparency around the operations of the ombuds scheme and the responses from its members.