The Turnbull government will consider ways to free up access to Sydney Airport for regional aircraft following demands from NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance for a cap on small planes to be scrapped.
In a shot across the bows of his federal counterparts, Mr Constance said it was time for Australia's Parliament to relax the cap for regional aircraft at the country's busiest airport.
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"In doing so, they must lock in iron-clad rules that mean any increase to the cap is reserved solely for regional services, to stop airports shunting regional planes for massive jets," he wrote in a column for the Herald.
"It is clear from plummeting service numbers that regional air passengers are getting a raw deal. We can fix this by getting off regional airlines' backs."
His comments come two years after an NSW inquiry into regional aviation recommended the federal government improve access to Sydney Airport for regional planes by relaxing the cap on landings or takeoffs for small, turboprop aircraft.
The number of slots at the airport for regional services during morning and evening peaks has dropped by about 10 per cent to just over 400 a day since the collapse of Ansett in 2001.
Responding to his state counterpart, federal Transport Minister Darren Chester said the government was "considering options to improve access arrangements for regional flights in and out of Sydney Airport".
"I appreciate the NSW government's interest and I am keen to work with the state government to explore options to improve aviation access," he said.
![Slots for regional aircraft at Sydney Airport during morning and evening peaks have fallen by 10 per cent since 2001.](/web/20161023035418im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/0/h/f/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs6mni.png/1477003745999.jpg)
Mr Chester did not say what options he would consider. But his language represents a softening of his position from late last week when he said "the current arrangement seeks to strike a balance between ensuring access to Sydney Airport for regional communities, and maximising airport capacity by processing larger aircraft".
Airlines have been in favour of increasing the limit of 80 aircraft movements per hour to 85 in peak periods but allowing only regional planes to use the extra five.
![Virgin Australia says "relatively simple amendments" to legislation could lead to significant benefits for regional areas.](/web/20161023035418im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/1/i/9/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs6mni.png/1477003745999.jpg)
But any increase to the movement cap at Sydney Airport would be highly contentious in inner-city suburbs under the flight paths.
While Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has said construction of a new airport in western Sydney will fix the problem, Mr Constance said that asking regional people to wait a decade for a solution was "not good enough".
"Both Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester and opposition infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese have the ability to change lives," the member for Bega in southern NSW' said. "Shirking this chance will isolate our regions."
On Thursday, a spokeswoman for Mr Joyce said he had met his state National Party counterparts and Mr Chester to discuss the issue and would "continue to work to consider options for improved access".
Mr Albanese, whose inner Sydney seat of Grayndler sits under the airport's flight path, said the government "needs to get its act together".
"Regional airlines had access to Sydney when I was minister," he said in a statement.
A spokesman declined to reveal whether Mr Albanese was in favour of relaxing the cap on aircraft movements for regional planes.
Virgin Australia has said "relatively simple amendments" to Commonwealth legislation covering slots at Sydney Airport could result in significant benefits for regional NSW.