But Canberra Airport Group managing director Stephen Byron, pictured, believes the tide may be about to turn as public servants undertake more travel as they implement the Abbott government's agenda.

Federal government agencies retained $60 million in air travel savings between 2010-11 and 2012-13, according to a Finance Department submission to a parliamentary inquiry. Another $150 million in air travel savings was returned to the budget.

Mr Byron said Canberra Airport had suffered a 12 per cent decline in passenger numbers between January 2011 and December 2013.

''We've gone from 3.35 million to 2.9 million passengers,'' he said.

Mr Byron said the efficiency dividend and travel savings measures imposed by former treasurer Wayne Swan and former finance minister Penny Wong had ''strangled'' the bureaucracy.

''I think the Abbott government's come in and found that the public service has been strangled,'' he said.

''You see it in the travel cuts, you see it in the efficiency dividend, you see it in the deficits that all of these organisations have been running.

''In the meantime Qantas have cancelled the Darwin route, Virgin have cancelled the Townsville and Hobart routes.

''And Brindabella Airlines have gone broke and we've lost the Newcastle and Albury routes.''

Despite a tough three years, Mr Byron believed airline passenger traffic in and out of Canberra would begin increasing between March and the budget in May.

''There will be more people coming to Canberra and I think ultimately the public servants will be allowed to travel because it's an inherent part of them being able to do their jobs,'' he said.

''This business of having to get a very high-level approval for a trip to Melbourne or prime ministerial approval for an international trip is just not realistic.

''You can't say you're open for business and yet run your business this way.''

This year the airport will continue to focus on its plans to expand by attracting international and low-cost flights to Canberra.

''We've got a very strong focus this year on the international side with both New Zealand and Singapore being the prime targets,'' Mr Byron said.

''We've got a very strong focus on delivering the two low-cost airlines - Jetstar and Tiger Airways - into Canberra.''

The airport will also seek planning approval for the construction of its first hotel.