Airline ombudsman plan gives hope to passengers, but Qantas-Virgin duopoly remains unchallenged

The government's much-anticipated white paper defers key decisions and passes the buck on the crucial issue of landing slots

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

If there's one collective trauma that unifies Australians, it's the experience of dealing with our airlines. Complaining about ludicrous air fares, dodgy customer service and mind-numbing delays has become a national pastime.

The promise of an ombudsman and air passenger charter of rights could finally give the travelling public greater leverage in the one-sided dynamic between the country's airline duopoly and a spread-out population heavily reliant on air travel.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email