AUSTRALIAN airports have pointed to the soaring profits of the major domestic carriers in a renewed call to maintain the current regulatory regime for the country’s privatised gateways.
The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has lodged a supplementary submission to the Productivity Commission inquiry into airport regulation (TD 22 Jun), countering claims made by airlines and other organisations in earlier submissions.
Having called for the current “light handed” regulatory approach to be maintained, the AAA has rejected claims by the major carriers that airports exert monopoly powers to maintain high charges.
The AAA points to the 41% profit increase Rex announced in Aug and Virgin Australia’s highest underlying profit in a decade, as well as the record first-quarter revenue achieved by Qantas.
“These data indicate that Australian airlines are in robust economic good health,” the AAA’s submission says.
“Virgin and Qantas seem to have been able to increase prices in excess of the rate of inflation.”
MEANWHILE, the AAA National Conference takes flight in Brisbane today, with about 800 delegates from airports around the country in attendance.
AAA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said this year’s event would feature a wide range of speakers designed to ignite new thinking and celebrate recent successes in the industry.
“The AAA National Conference is a great opportunity for airports to share how they’re delivering more for the travelling public and discuss the key challenges and issues that face the industry in the future,” Wilkie said.
The event is at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Source: traveldaily