iscover
Virgin Australia’s chief corporate affairs officer, Christian Bennett, is set to join the panel to discuss the Aviation White Paper at this week’s Australian Aviation Summit.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Bennett will join Google Wing’s Jesse Suskin and the Transport Workers’ Union’s Emily McMillan on Thursday to discuss the long-awaited report, released earlier this week, which aims to provide a path forward for the industry until 2050.
The trio will appear alongside a host of other industry big hitters at the event, including Western Sydney International’s CEO, Simon Hickey, Boeing’s Dr Kimberly Camrass, Virgin Australia’s Daniel Dott and Airservices interim chief executive Rob Sharp.
The Australian Aviation Summit, supported by Principal Partner Leidos, will be held on Thursday, 29 August, at The Star in Sydney.
To find out more and buy tickets, click here.
Earlier this week, the white paper revealed the federal government will introduce an Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme and a Charter of Customer Rights to better enforce consumer protections in the airline sector.
The government also signalled plans to better enforce refunds for flights that are “disrupted, cancelled or unreasonably delayed”, and that these refunds may be required in cash or the original payment method rather than in vouchers.
The ombudsman will be brought in to deliver “accessible, independent, fair and accountable” dispute resolution, as well as direct airlines and airports on consumer remedies; issue guidance on obligations to customers; report on airline and airport conduct; and refer misconduct in the sector for investigation under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
Transport Minister Catherine King said the industry-funded Airline Customer Advocate (ACA), which is widely considered ineffectual in addressing consumer complaints and refund requests, “hasn’t made enough progress” in fixing these issues.
“Too many Australians have been left out to dry when flights are cancelled or disrupted and it’s impossibly complex to get a refund or even contact a company representative,” she said.
“Customers deserve to get their money back if they are owed it. Full stop.
“It is time to take strong action to protect consumer rights with an Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme and Charter of Customer Rights.”
To hear more about how the aviation white paper could align with the government’s vision and industry’s goals, come along to the Australian Aviation Summit 2024.
It will be held on Thursday, 29 August at The Star, Sydney. Click here to book your tickets.
For more information, including agenda and speakers, click here.
This summit is produced by Captivate Events. If you need help planning your next event, email director Jim Hall at [email protected].
