AUSTRALIA’S airlines today welcomed confirmation of a Productivity Commission inquiry into the nation’s privatised airports, including news the investigation will extend beyond the “big four” gateways.
Terms of reference for the inquiry were released this morning, showing the commission will this year investigate all airports nationally.
Airlines for Australia & New Zealand (A4ANZ) said the inquiry was timely and that it was pleased to see the commission’s remit extended.
“As we have noted, monopoly behaviour is clearly demonstrated by many airports throughout Australia, through inefficient operations, poorly planned infrastructure and rising charges,” said A4ANZ ceo Alison Roberts.
“With at least one in three domestic passengers using airports outside of the big four, it is vital that the commission examines this behaviour at all our airports where market power exists,” she said.
A4ANZ has been a vocal critic of the privatised airports, having recently released a report that says “light-handed” regulation has led to excessive profits and prices at the country’s major gateways (TD 25 May).
The organisation’s chairman Graeme Samuel said A4ANZ was pleased the commission would not only look at aeronautical services and facilities, but would also examine non-aeronautical services and facilities highlighted by the ACCC.
He said the travelling public was impacted by monopoly pricing not only through its effect on landing fees, but also through car parking charges, taxi surcharges and food and beverage costs.
Source: traveldaily