THE DUBBO Chamber of Commerce and Industry is sitting on the fence as the battle between Dubbo City Council and airline Regional Express (Rex) continues to boil.
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Vice president Megan Dixon said the issue of the security stoush was raised at a full board meeting recently and the resolution was unanimously passed to stay out of the firing line.
"We don't feel we should buy into the argument between Rex and council," she said.
"We believe it is a commercial argument."
Mrs Dixon said the chamber acknowledged the importance of having two airlines servicing Dubbo as it created competition and choice for travellers.
Deputy chairman of Rex John Sharp said all options were on the table to force the council to change its mind.
It would be a "great disappointment" if Rex decided to pull out of Dubbo as a way of protesting paying the security screening charges, Mrs Dixon said.
Despite the ongoing argument between the council and Rex, the chamber had a positive view of the security screening as it opened up new opportunities for the airport and increased capacity on planes.
"We hope it'll support new developments of services and routes," Mrs Dixon said.
The chamber also discussed the needs of business travellers and whether the increased cost of security would be a disincentive to fly in and out of Dubbo.
Mrs Dixon believed business travellers would not be adversely impacted with the new changes to airport security.
"We hope the negotiations between Rex and the council continue," she said.
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