Airlines Join Forces To Fight Against Airport Fees, Taxes

Airlines Join Forces To Fight Against Airport Fees, Taxes

Certainly airport fees and taxes can impact the cost airlines must charge customers to fly a specific place.  That has led a group of airlines, including Qantas, Jetstar, and Air New Zealand to join forces to decrease costs and incentive travel to Australia on their airlines.  The group joins forces after a government report that passengers have paid over $1.6 billion in costs for airport access over the last ten years.

According to ABC News Australia:

The Australian and New Zealand governments do not have the ability to regulate fees, as major airports are operated by commercial companies such as Sydney Airport Holdings, which is listed on the ASX.

Professor Graeme Samuel, a former ACCC chairman, will chair the group, called Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ).

Members of the group will fund the venture, including Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas, Regional Express (Rex), Tigerair Australia and Virgin Australia.

“Airport fees and charges continue to increase while airlines are offering fares at levels significantly cheaper than they were over a decade ago,” Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said in a statement.

So this an interesting take from a group of airlines who want the ability to maybe end the number of airport fees paid by passengers.  We will see what success they have!