Melbourne Airport recorded 2.3 million travellers over February,the highest number since before the pandemic but still just 80 per cent of the same period in 2019.

February is usually the quietest month for travel,but recent Bureau of Statistics figures show the country’s short-term international arrivals slipped to below 60 per cent of 2019 levels in January.

The number of Australians travelling overseas continues to buoy the recovery but is yet to top 80 per cent of pre-pandemic figures.

New Zealand was the biggest source of tourists,with more than 65,000 in January,but this figure is still 30 per cent down on pre-COVID levels.

Meanwhile,Australia’s competition watchdog has delayed a decision on Qantas’ proposed takeover of fly-in,fly-out charter airline Alliance Aviation for a fifth time.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission now expects to make a decision on the deal on April 20,having only just amended the date to March 20 last month.

Qantas has made no secret of its frustration at the drawn-out process. In October,the carrier said it was disappointed at the continual delays and had been transparent about its intention to fully acquire Alliance since it secured a 19 per cent stake in early 2019.

“The ACCC took three years to investigate that minority holding and made no findings that it lessened competition. The commission has also had the benefit of over two years of closely monitoring the domestic aviation industry,” a Qantas spokesperson said at the time.

Qantas also pointed out the ACCC took just 11 days to decide Regional Express’ acquisition of National Jet Express from Cobham last year and did not require a public review.

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