SINGAPORE (AP) -- Singapore Airlines on Sunday warned that Australia's tourism industry is ''the big loser'' in the government's refusal to let the Singaporean carrier fly between Australia and the United States.
''It is unfortunate that Qantas continues to champion government protection when it suits them,'' said Singapore Airlines Ltd. spokesman Stephen Forshaw.
Forshaw was responding to Australian media reports Saturday that the government will indefinitely postpone letting Singapore's flag-carrier compete with Australia's Qantas Airways on the lucrative U.S. routes. Forshaw said the airline had not received an official statement from the Australian government.
Singapore officials have been lobbying Australia for three years, seeking permission to fly the routes.
''The big loser is the Australian tourism sector, and consumers who will continue to pay high airfares as a result'' of the situation, Forshaw said.
He cited a Singapore Airlines-commissioned study that showed Australia was losing more than 126 million Australian dollars (US$96 million, euro79 million) a year in U.S. tourist spending because only Qantas and United Airlines are allowed to fly the routes.
''The Australian government has to understand that the consequence of its decision is stunted growth in its tourism industry,'' Forshaw said.
Forshaw said Singapore Airlines will continue making its case to the Australian government.
