Auckland International Airport will reduce airline passenger charges after the country's Commerce Commission said the airport was overcharging airlines and travellers.
The Commerce Commission published its final report on the airport’s 2022-2027 price setting event on March 31, concluding that forecast revenue was excessive and targeted returns were unreasonably high.
“The airport is targeting excess profit of about NZD190 million (R1,9 billion) and its charges are too high, with businesses and consumers likely to end up carrying much of the cost-burden,” said Commissioner, Vhari McWha.
“Price increases will fund investment needed to improve customer experience, build more resilient infrastructure and add additional capacity, but the increases are higher than is needed to achieve these outcomes,” said McWha.
Over the next two financial years, passenger airline charges will be reduced on an average basis by NZD1,10 (R11) to NZD9,00 (R94) for regional travel, NZD1,70 (R18) to NZD12,80 (R133) for domestic jet travel, and NZD4,80 (R46) to NZD38,90 (R405) for international travel.