Unions say passenger jets are having to land at regional Australian airports without the requisite firefighting crews on duty. 

The Aviation Branch of the United Firefighters Union says a rise in air travel demand has outpaced the availability of aviation firefighting personnel, and is raising alarms over the staffing inadequacies.

They say some aircraft are being forced to land without any firefighting service or with less than the minimum required firefighters to protect air travellers in emergencies. Additionally, reports say there are inadequate facilities for rest and recline for the firefighting crews, leading to severe fatigue among personnel working overtime to cover delayed flights.

The United Firefighters Union has slammed the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for its alleged failure to enforce aviation firefighting regulations, accusing it of neglecting its duty to ensure air traveller safety. 

The Union argues that CASA's lack of action against Airservices Australia for not fulfilling its obligations is a dereliction of its primary purpose.

More details are accessible here.