THE Federal Government is being pressed to stop regional airlines flying into Sydney Airport.
A proposal to relocate regional airlines, including Rex, away from Sydney, is intended to reduce the airport's growing pains.
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has been told a new airport at Nepean or other existing landing strips at Richmond or Bankstown could accommodate the regional flights. Regional passengers would be put on buses to Sydney Airport for processing, it has been suggested.
While there has been no formal plan released, Rex executive chairman Lim Kim Hai said it would greatly inconvenience regional passengers wanting to connect on to domestic services and vice versa.
"Under the proposed plan, some of the connections will entail transiting to another terminal, which will add on considerable time and inconvenience especially for the transfer of luggage," he said.
"Obviously this will have an impact on the competitive positions of all the local carriers."
Nationals leader Warren Truss ruled out access cuts to Sydney Airport for regional airlines.
"In fact, under the Sydney Airport plan, it can receive more passengers, including from regional areas, through natural evolution within the sector - such as airlines boosting their fleets with larger, quieter planes and improved navigation systems," Mr Truss said.
"People coming from, or going to, regional areas are not second-class passengers and do not deserve to be treated as such.
"Sydney Airport serves their capital city and, as such, they are entitled to have access to it."
