Airports want capacity for extended security screening times to meet changes to airline schedules and network growth.
In a submission on plans by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to trim AvSec levies by 5%, New Zealand Airports wants confirmation that the reduction in fees doesn’t remove resources and capacity needed to expand screening. It wants AvSec to offer earlier opening, longer screening hours or screening at additional locations where demand warrants.
AvSec must be able to work with airports and airlines to provide that flexibility without the levy reduction being cited as a barrier,” NZ Airports says.
Screening capacity directly affects the passenger experience, on-time performance and an airport’s ability to accommodate new services and schedule changes, and to recover from disruption. While NZ Airports supports the fee reduction, it says aviation security service levels at airports must continue to improve. The
proposed reduction would lower the domestic levy from $10.91 to $10.36 per passenger and the international levy from $22.30 to $21.19 per passenger, excluding GST. The CAA estimates that this will reduce levy collections by a cumulative $70.9 million in the next five years.
. . . Timing Issue
NZ Airports is also calling for the fee reduction to start on 01 Jan, rather than in the ‘first half’ of the year as planned. “The urgency applied to implementing levy increases should apply equally to reductions, so that passengers and the sector see lower costs passed on just as promptly.’
The airports group, which is holding a hui in Wellington this week, is also seeking a commitment to review the levy rates again within 12 to 18 months. NZ Airports wants to know how much increased air traffic allowed for the reduction, as opposed to efficiencies within the CAA.
