Union attacks airport

Claims of firefighter shortages for international flights

The union for aviation firefighters claims inadequate numbers of trucks and personnel are on deck for international flights - but Gold Coast Airport rejects the accusation.

Airservices Australia – a federal government organisation responsible for aviation rescue fire fighting – is also dismissing the claims, adding the union is campaigning for a new contract deal.

The United Firefighters Union of Australia claims between December last year and February, 2024, 15 AirAsia flights arrived at or departed Gold Coast Airport without the required number of firefighters available.

The Union claims AirAsia’s Airbus 330-300 capable of carrying 365 people “typically” requires 10 firefighters and three fire trucks on duty “to respond at a moment’s notice”.

But it claims 13 flights had three fire trucks but only six firefighters – and two flights were staffed by two fire trucks and only six firefighters. Union aviation branch secretary Wes Garrett alleged it was a breach of international aviation safety regulations.

“Practically, that means if an air crash does occur, the capacity of aviation firefighters to extinguish an aircraft fire and to intervene to rescue passengers from a burning aircraft is greatly reduced, and that could cost a significant number of lives.”

“International flights at the Gold Coast Airport are taking off and landing with inadequate protection from understaffed aviation firefighters,” he claimed.

Mr Garrett added: “Under the Morrison government, Airservices cut 100 aviation firefighters from Australia’s airports in 2021, against our advice and concerns. In February 2024, we’re still suffering the effects of those cuts.”

The union has formally written to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) with its claims of “insufficient staffing” for the 15 AirAsia flights.

An Airservices Australia spokeswoman dismissed claims of safety regulation breaches: “The claims are part of an industrial campaign for a new Enterprise Agreement which Airservices is seeking to negotiate in good faith.

Airservices has more than 830 aviation rescue firefighters and require 760 to service airline and airport customers acrossthe country, she said.

A Gold Coast Airport spokesperson denied having any firefighter shortages.

“Gold Coast Airport works in close consultation with Airservices Australia, as well as other partner agencies, and remainsassured that the level of coverage provided is in line with operational requirements,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Garrett said if Airservices failed to respond to union requests for “urgent action”, members were “fully prepared to undertake industrial action”.