Perth Airport supporting local industries during crisis

“Approximately 10 per cent of Western Australia’s annual agrifood export value is transported via air freight, with a large proportion carried as cargo in regular passenger aircraft.

“Given that regular international transport movements have all but stopped, it’s been crucial for us to work closely with airlines and the State and Federal Governments in order to preserve important international export markets and jobs in Western Australia,” said Perth Airport Chief Aviation Development Officer, Carolyn Turnbull.

“A prime example of this collaboration to support Western Australia’s agrifood industry is a Xiamen Airlines’ charter service that departed last night, with over 30,800kg of seafood and Western Australia Rock Lobsters bound for China.

“The service was supported by the Federal Government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism, which aims to keep international freight routes and flights operating until the end of the year and enables Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-Operative to send fresh produces directly to China, making produce more competitive in the current market.

“We have also seen the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development support agricultural businesses such as Linley Valley Pork in order to continue supplying premium chilled WA pork to Singapore in the midst of airfreight chaos and market disruption.

“Without this cooperation between business and government during these times of crisis our market position and a number of Western Australian jobs would have been threatened,” Ms Turnbull said.

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