Auckland International Airport, which is targeting Asian arrivals to stoke growth over the next decade, will trim its international passenger fees in the 2013 financial year, while hiking domestic travellers' charges as part of a new pricing schedule.
From the start of July, the country's biggest gateway will cut the average international passenger fee by 58 cents, or 2.8 per cent, to $21.55, and lift domestic charges $1.32, or 31 per cent, to $5.55, it said in a statement.
As part of its pricing restructure, the airport will drop international terminal service charges, domestic terminal lease charges for passenger processing, and introduce an international transit and transfer charge. Between 2014 and 2017, the airport will increase its annual charge at an annual 2 per cent pace to keep in line with inflation.
"This gives us greater alignment with airlines on the risk and reward of passenger volume growth," outgoing chief executive Simon Moutter said. "If we didn't price appropriately, we risk not being able to keep up with growth in passenger numbers or the introduction of larger aircraft, which is absolutely essential for New Zealand's tourism and trade interests."
Last month, the Commerce Commission published a processes and issues paper seeking feedback on pricing at Wellington International Airport as it tests the effectiveness of information disclosure regulation in the airport sector.