Fed: Airport sale funds used to retire debt = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2000
Fed: Airport sale funds used to retire debt = 2

Mr Howard said he wanted to assure regional Australians that their access to Kingsford
Smith airport was guaranteed.

"Your existing access to Kingsford Smith is guaranteed," he said.

"However, we're going to put a ceiling on additional growth in that area so that there
can be a gradual overflow into Bankstown."

The prime minister also said the government would guarantee small airlines on regional
routes would not be priced out of their routes.

"That is an absolute guarantee," he said.

"We're not going to allow the price control machinery operating at Sydney Airport to lapse."

However Mr Howard did not explain how the guarantees would be put in place for either
passenger or airline access to Kingsford Smith.

Potential buyers had expressed an interest in Bankstown airport, Mr Howard said.

"We are already aware of people who are interested in buying Bankstown airport," he said.

"The government has been approached by a number of people.

"It is open of course to some of the smaller entrants into the airline industry such
as Virgin and impulse to express a particular interest in an airport like Bankstown.

"I'm not saying they will."

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KEYWORD: AIRPORT HOWARD 2 SYDNEY

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