Australia has become the latest country to require two crew members to remain in the cockpit at all times, following last week’s Germanwings crash.
Deputy prime minister Warren Truss said the rules apply to all domestic and international flights and are effective immediately.
The announcement comes a week after a Germanwings flight crashed in the French Alps and follows similar changes by carriers such as Virgin Atlantic, Norwegian and Lufthansa.
Flight 4U 9525, heading to Dusseldorf from Barcelona, came down on Tuesday killing all 150 on board.
“The Australian Government and the aviation industry are taking a precautionary approach to ensure the ongoing safety and security of the travelling public,” said Truss.
“Australian airlines will immediately update their Standard Operating Procedures to require two members of the operating crew or authorised persons on the flight deck at all times.
“These arrangements will apply at all times, to all regular passenger transport services where the aircraft has seating capacity for 50 passengers and above.”
On Friday, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also recommended airlines adopt a similar system.