The Commerce Commission is looking at a complaint that Palmerston North Airport Company is misrepresenting its $3 airport domestic departure charge.
The airport introduced the charge in 1990 as a contribution to the interest on loans raised for development.
Auckland businessman Michael Greer, marketing manager for an international car shipping line, last week refused to pay the charge.
After a scene at the departure gate, Air New Zealand's manager at the airport, Peter Simm, defused the situation. Faced with an aircraft four minutes from on-time departure and an animated Gold Card-plus customer, Mr Simm paid the charge.
Mr Greer later lodged a complaint with the Commerce Commission.
Mr Greer said that with domestic air travel so expensive, the public was being "double-whammied" by the airport company.
- NZPA
Flight fee a 'double hit'
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.