Rotorua's trans-Tasman air plans may be scuttled by security fees

Rotorua's hopes for a trans-Tasman airport may be grounded by proposed Government rules that would make flying out of the city too expensive to be viable.

The proposal has outraged Bay of Plenty mayors -- with Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters saying he will go to Wellington to fight it if he has to.

The Government proposal could result in passengers flying out of Rotorua paying up to $120 for security clearance, despite Auckland only charging passengers $8.

The proposals come as part of a Government review of ways of recovering security costs.

From October, the costs will change when airports begin screening hold-stowed baggage on all departing international flights.

A "two-tiered system" -- in which new international airports could have to pay more than existing ones -- is one of the ideas being considered.

Mr Winters said the proposal was unfair and an example of the Government discriminating against the regions.

Such a proposal would kill Rotorua's plans to fly trans-Tasman and have a significant effect on economic growth in the region, he said.

Mr Winters said he was in favour of a proposal to have all airports charged the same.

"The Government is embarking on an anti- competitive and selective protectionist plan."

Mr Winters' claims, made in a submission to the Government, are backed by all Bay of Plenty mayors, as well as the chairman of Environment Bay of Plenty.

The Rotorua Regional Airport Company has lodged two submissions to the proposal, chairman Neil Oppatt said.

"It [the proposal] is an extreme worry. It is potentially pulling the rug out from underneath us."

Mr Oppatt said there was huge potential for Rotorua to tap into the growing market of "short-stay" holidays, with people flying directly to Rotorua for a few days.

He said while much of the redevelopment work going on around the airport was to bring it up to scratch for the domestic market, it would be "a pain" not to use the work for trans-Tasman flights. "It would be a real shame if we can't capitalise on it."

Mr Oppatt said those conducting the review had failed to take into account that Rotorua as the only domestic airport in the country which has jets flying in to it already has significant security measures in place. The review is still open to submissions.

Chief executives from Dunedin, Queenstown, Palmerston North and Hamilton airports have already expressed concern about the possible changes, which could see their international passengers charged security fees of $19.80.

A joint statement issued last week by the chief executives of the four airports said they would be "seriously disadvantaged" if their departing passengers were forced to pay more.

They said the two-tier regime had the potential to make international operations from regional airports uneconomic.

- NZPA