Departure tax at Auckland airport up 10 per cent

By PATRICK GOWER

The cost of flying out of Auckland has just gone up, but Kiwis will still pay less to leave home than at most other airports in the world.

The Auckland International Airport departure tax will increase from $20 to $22 from October 1 as part of a review of charges, announced yesterday.

A Herald survey of departure taxes found Auckland was in the middle range of airports, ahead of cheaper tourist destinations, like Honolulu at $13, but significantly cheaper than London's Heathrow. There the authorities charge $66 for international flights or $33 for flights to the European Union.

It costs about double the Auckland tax to leave Sydney.

Often the costs of departure taxes - and other charges for travellers, which can vary from airport to airport - are hidden in the price of a ticket.

The managing director of Auckland International Airport, John Goulter, said the increase was the first since 1992 and the exemption for children under 12 would still apply.

Mr Goulter said that the increase was justified in light of the need to maintain the airport's public areas and amenities to international standards. "In addressing that situation we are taking into account the big picture - the travelling public, visitors to the airport, the region, the nation etcetera. So we moved the departure tax up $2."

The 10 per cent increase in departure tax is part of a wider review of charges, which has airlines up in arms. Landing charges will be increased 19 per cent over the next three years.

The Board of Airline Representatives in New Zealand, which has been involved in 10 months of heated debate with the airport over its charges, said the increase "smacked of pure monopolistic behaviour."

Spokesman Stewart Milne said that it was wrong for the airport, which has more than 2 million departing passengers each year, to raise the tax when passenger numbers were growing.

"And bear in mind this airport is a very profitable organisation. By raising these charges, it is continuing to exercise its monopoly powers and authority to increase prices."

Mr Goulter said he "utterly and totally" rejected such talk.

Paying to leave


Honolulu $13

Nadi, Fiji $17


Singapore Changi $19.90

Auckland International Airport $22

Shanghai $24.50

Johannesburg $26

Frankfurt $35.90

Sydney $43.80

London Heathrow $66


Taxes are sometimes included in ticket prices.

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